The essence of NATO’s Article 5 collective defense commitment is something Trump questions. On his way to the summit, he remarked, “There are numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends.”
In reality, the definition is straightforward: “An armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all.” Article 5 has been invoked only once, in response to the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., leading all allies to deploy troops and resources to Afghanistan, many remaining for over a decade.
Being a friend is one matter, being a true ally is another. It’s the latter that counts in international politics, and America’s NATO allies are as concerned about Trump’s understanding of this as they are about Russia.
That’s why they’ve agreed to significantly increase spending on defense — 5 percent of GDP, with 3.5 percent dedicated to core defense capabilities, nearly double the current 2 percent benchmark.
European allies and Canada recognize they cannot rely solely on the U.S. for security and defense. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned in February, “Stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe.”
While claiming success with the 5 percent goal, Trump indicated the U.S. would not adhere to it. “We’ve been supporting NATO so long,” he stated regarding the new standard, “So, I don’t think we should, but I think that the NATO countries should, absolutely.”













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