U.S., NATO alliance on the line as Trump set to meet with Rutte

By Sarah Roderick-Fitch
The Center Square

Tensions are running high between President Donald Trump and NATO leaders, as grumblings grow over the U.S. withdrawing from the alliance.

NATO’s relationship with the U.S. is being scrutinized by a growing number of Republicans, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is questioning whether the U.S. still needs NATO.

Mark Rutte, NATO’s secretary general, is reportedly scheduled to meet with Trump next week in Washington as the president puts more pressure on allied nations to do more to reopen the Strait of Hormuz as Operation Epic Fury steams on.

The president has indicated in recent weeks that he is considering withdrawing from NATO. During a bilateral meeting in the Oval Office on March 17, The Center Square asked Trump whether he was rethinking America’s relationship with NATO and possibly withdrawing.

The president responded by expressing disappointment in NATO’s lack of support since the U.S. strikes on Iran began just over a month ago.

“Well, I’m disappointed in NATO that we spend trillions of dollars on NATO. Think of it, trillions over the years … It’s one of the reasons we have deficits and we help other countries when they don’t help us,” Trump told The Center Square. “I mean, it’s certainly something that we should think about.”

Some NATO countries, including France, Spain and Italy, have come under scrutiny for prohibiting American forces from using bases in those countries to carry out strikes against the Iranian regime.

Rubio expressed his disappointment on Fox News this week, echoing Trump’s desire to reexamine America’s involvement in NATO.

“We’re not asking them to conduct air strikes. When we need them to allow us to use their bases, their answer is No. Then why are we in NATO? You have to ask that question,” the secretary of state questioned. “So I think there’s no doubt, unfortunately, after this conflict is concluded, we are going to have to reexamine that relationship.”

The notion of withdrawing from NATO is sparking debate on Capitol Hill, with many Democrats and some Republicans voicing support for the nearly 80-year-old treaty.

Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee responded by arguing the president doesn’t have the authority to withdraw the U.S. from NATO.

Despite their claims, the president told The Center Square he doesn’t need congressional approval.

“I don’t need Congress for that decision … I can make that decision myself,” the president claimed.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who is often a vocal Republican critic of the president’s, voiced support for withdrawing from the treaty, backing up Trump’s claims.

“Trump is right to reconsider NATO. Under Article II, the president has full constitutional authority to withdraw from any treaty without Senate approval. The 2023 Kaine-Rubio provision can’t override the Constitution. It’s his call to make,” Paul posted on X. “The Constitution says nothing about how to exit treaties, so that remains with the president. The Founders designed it this way deliberately: hard to get in, easy to get out when an alliance no longer serves America’s interests.”

“Trump is forcing the conversation Washington refuses to have: do our alliances benefit America, or just trap us indefinitely? Alliances should serve our interests, not the other way around,” Paul argues.

To be sure, the senator has been a vocal critic of the Trump administration’s military involvement in Iran.

Meanwhile, Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., released a joint statement vowing to protect America’s alliance with NATO, even if the president decides to withdraw.

“NATO is the most successful military alliance in history. It has underpinned the security of the United States for more than 70 years,” the senators stated.

“The only time NATO has gone to war has been in response to an attack on America. NATO troops fought and died in Afghanistan and Iraq alongside American forces. The United States must not take this sacrifice – nor our allies’ commitment to make it again – lightly… The Senate will continue to support the alliance for the peace and protection it provides America, Europe and the world.”