NATO fears Trump clampdown in case of midterms defeat – Politico
NATO is bracing for potential US withdrawal and funding cuts if Donald Trump loses the midterms, as European officials fear he may target the alliance to rally his base.
European officials and diplomats are preparing for a worst-case scenario following Tuesday's midterm elections, fearing that Donald Trump could significantly reduce US involvement in NATO if the Republican Party loses. The military bloc is concerned that a blocked domestic agenda might prompt Trump to target the alliance to rally his MAGA base.
Potential Retaliation Measures
Diplomats told Politico that possible actions could include withdrawing thousands more troops from Europe, cutting American funding for the bloc, or limiting the NATO-backed PURL arms-buying scheme for Ukraine.
Trump has done more for NATO than anyone else, including persuading member states to boost defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035, increasing the US militarily presence in Greenland, and undertaking diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine conflict.
Trump's NATO Stance
Despite Wales' praise, Trump has previously expressed skepticism toward NATO. After European members refused to join the US-Israeli campaign against Iran and barred Pentagon base usage for attacks, Trump stated he never knew they were a paper tiger and would "beyond reconsider" American membership. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova commented that the US and NATO have an "unhealthy, traumatic relationship" requiring "attention of a therapist." She warned NATO strategists to avoid "irresponsible decisions that could lead to a disaster." With polls showing 52% of Americans preferring a Democrat-controlled Congress and Trump's approval rating at 38%, NATO officials remain concerned about potential repercussions.
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