NATO
1949
04-04-1949 NATO was created to promote collective security during the Cold War era, to deter the spread of the Soviet Union, to prevent countries from being nationalistic or militaristic over other countries, and to adhere to Democratic values. It has also been:
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Cold War: as a “nuclear umbrella”
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Post Cold War Era (1989): for “peacemaking”
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Post 9/11 (2001): for “counterterrorism” (with vague definitions of terrorism) ***NATO invoked Article 5
https://www.nato.int/en/about-us/organization/nato-member-countries
2017
2017-05-19 NATO allies needed reassurance that Trump had their backs after Trump accused NATO of not “paying their fair share” during his campaign trail. An article quoted Thomas Wright of Brooking Institution as saying, “the problem in the plan is that President Trump is the only president who has not yet explicitly endorsed Article 5. I understand that is not an accident”.
2017-07-06 Trump complained that the US had been pouring too much money into NATO, even claiming that “massive amounts of money is owed” back to the US. Context: The US receives global presence, economics (a higher GDP than all allies combined), technological investment, and essential capabilities like satellites.
https://www.npr.org/2018/07/11/628137185/fact-check-trumps-claims-on-nato-spending
2020 and 2024
2024-01-20 During a New Hampshire rally Trump claimed that European countries relied too heavily on Washington for defense spending and said that the U.S. was “footing the bill”. Politico reported that Trump told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020 that the US wouldn’t come to Europe’s defense if it was attacked.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/01/20/trump-nato-eu-00136732
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-vow-never-help-europe-attack-thierry-breton/
2024-03-19 Trump said he would only help protect NATO members from a future attack by Russia if its European members spent more on defense.
https://ca.news.yahoo.com/trump-again-conditions-us-help-200835508.html
2026 March
2026-03-16 Trump demanded NATO allies assist with securing the Strait of Hormuz in Iran, but NATO allies refused, saying this is not NATO’s war. Trump stated they had made a ‘foolish mistake’.
https://www.npr.org/2026/03/16/nx-s1-5749109/trump-threatens-nato-strait-hormuz-iran-war
https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/16/europe/us-allies-trump-help-strait-hormuz-intl