President Donald Trump refused to clearly endorse Article 5 as he traveled to the pivotal summit of the alliance in The Hague, on Tuesday, June 24th, stirring fresh uncertainty over the United States’ commitment to the NATO alliance.
When asked directly if he would commit to the clause mandating collective defense in case one member is attacked, Trump deflected. “It depends on your definition.”
“There’s numerous definitions of Article 5. You know that, right? But I’m committed to being their friends, you know, I’ve become friends with many of those leaders, and I’m committed to helping them.”
When asked to clarify, Trump remained vague. “I’m committed to saving lives. I’m committed to life and safety,” he said.
Trump has repeatedly criticized NATO allies for what he perceives as an imbalance in defense spending, accusing European members of relying too heavily on U.S. military protection without contributing their fair share. His latest remarks are likely to reignite debates within the alliance about reliability and collective defense.
