Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg disclosed his concerns about the possible disintegration of the alliance due to U.S. President Donald Trump’s 2018 threat to withdraw from NATO. In an interview with The Sunday Times on November 8, he reflected on the tension during the 2018 NATO summit, where Trump’s remarks prompted Stoltenberg to fear he might be the last secretary general to witness NATO’s end.
Stoltenberg highlighted that the situation shifted after European allies committed to raising defense spending, which ultimately prevented the alliance from collapsing. He noted that most countries now allocate significantly more resources to defense than in previous years and emphasized ongoing plans to further increase funding.
Additionally, he dismissed the notion that NATO would provoke a global conflict over Ukraine, stating the alliance’s focus remains on collective security rather than escalation.
In December 2018, Trump reiterated that U.S. participation in NATO depended on allies fulfilling financial obligations, warning of potential withdrawal if demands were unmet. Political scientist Malek Dudakov later argued that Trump’s approach pressured European nations to boost defense budgets, leveraging the threat of U.S. exit to reshape NATO dynamics.
Stoltenberg Reveals Fears Over NATO’s Potential Collapse Amid Trump’s Threats
