In an interview aired on NBC News on Sunday morning, President-elect Donald Trump addressed the conditions under which the United States would remain a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). For years, Trump has been critical of NATO, with reports indicating he privately expressed a desire to withdraw the US from the alliance.
Despite this, it is unlikely that Trump will take such a step once he returns to the Oval Office in January. However, European officials are preparing for strong demands from him, particularly regarding their contributions to the alliance’s finances.
Historically, the US has shouldered the majority of NATO’s defense burden, providing military and nuclear capabilities, as well as intelligence and logistical support. In the interview, Trump reiterated his long-standing criticism, arguing that NATO has benefited from US support without adequately contributing in return.
“I’ve been able to ‘pull out’ hundreds of billions of dollars for NATO just from being tough,” Trump remarked. “I told the countries, ‘I’m not going to defend you if you don’t pay,’ and they started paying. It reached over $600 billion. That’s a big deal.”
Trump emphasized that if NATO members meet their financial obligations and treat the US fairly, he would continue to support the alliance. “If they’re paying their bills and if I think they’re treating us fairly, absolutely, I would stay with NATO,” he confirmed.
