Trump can't quit NATO alone. But he can hurt it.
Why it matters: Trump's potential troop withdrawal from Europe could weaken NATO's collective defense capabilities.
- President Trump cannot abandon NATO on his own, but his actions could make the relationship toxic, according to the main story.
- Trump continues to chide NATO allies for not backing U.S. operations in Iran, as reported by Defense News.
- Trump is weighing the withdrawal of some U.S. troops from Europe amid NATO strains, an official tells Defense News.
- America has been the backbone of the transatlantic alliance since 1949, but Trump's behavior threatens to undermine it, per the main story.
- NATO is harder to kill than it looks, enduring despite Trump's rages, notes CBC World.
While President Trump cannot unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from NATO, his ongoing criticism of allies for not supporting his Iran policy and his consideration of pulling U.S. troops from Europe are creating significant strain within the alliance. Experts warn that his rhetoric, despite NATO's resilience, threatens to undermine the transatlantic relationship that has been its backbone since 1949.
