Former Trump Advisers Warn of Potential US Withdrawal from NATO in Second Term
The possibility of the United States withdrawing from the NATO alliance has become a topic of concern, as former Trump advisers reveal their predictions in a forthcoming book. These warnings come in the wake of Donald Trump’s recent controversial comments, where he encouraged Russia to attack European allies if they fail to meet their NATO budget contribution goals. If Trump secures a second term as President, these former advisers believe that he will make it a priority to formally withdraw the US from NATO.
One former senior US official, who held high-level positions in both the Trump and Biden administrations, shared their views in the book titled “The Return of Great Powers,” set to be published on March 12. According to this official, if Trump emerges victorious over President Joe Biden in the upcoming election, “the US will be out of NATO.”
This sentiment is echoed by John Bolton, who served as Trump’s national security adviser. Bolton believes that Trump would indeed attempt to withdraw from NATO if given the opportunity. The consequences of such a move would be severe, putting the NATO alliance itself in grave jeopardy.
Trump’s disdain for US security commitments extends beyond NATO. Retired General John Kelly, who served as Trump’s White House chief of staff, revealed that Trump also questioned the value of mutual defense agreements with South Korea and Japan. Kelly explains that Trump saw no purpose in having troops stationed in South Korea and Japan as deterrent forces.
“He thought Putin was an okay guy and Kim Jong Un was an okay guy — that we had pushed North Korea into a corner,” Kelly recalled. “To him, it was like we were goading these guys. ‘If we didn’t have NATO, then Putin wouldn’t be doing these things.'”
The book also highlights how, during his first term, Trump came close to withdrawing the US from NATO, which serves as a crucial pillar of Western security against Russia. Former senior members of the Trump administration warn that if he secures a second term, he is likely to take even more drastic measures.
In response to criticisms, Jason Miller, a spokesperson for the Trump campaign, defended the former President’s actions and pointed out that Trump successfully pushed for increased NATO spending from US allies. Miller argued that Trump’s approach led to four years of peace and prosperity, while blaming the Obama-Biden era for Europe’s experience of “death and destruction.”
The potential withdrawal of the US from NATO raises significant concerns among US allies and European nations. The alliance has long been seen as a cornerstone of Western security and a deterrent against Russian aggression. Should Trump secure a second term, the future of US-NATO relations hangs in the balance, leaving many questioning the implications for global security and stability.
