The "signals" from the US show that the Western Alliance is creaking. Following the presentation of the new US National Security Strategy, which essentially declares the end of US global hegemony and introduces spheres of influence—the Western Hemisphere to the US, Asia to China, Europe... to itself—a new shock message for Western unity comes from across the Atlantic.
Republican Senator from Kentucky, Thomas Massie, introduced a bill for the US to withdraw from NATO, characterizing the North Atlantic Alliance as a relic of the Cold War that does not serve American interests.
Although this scenario seems rather unlikely and fantastical at this specific moment, many of Massie's arguments align with the rhetoric of US President Donald Trump, both regarding the cost that NATO entails for the American economy and the need for Europeans to take responsibility for their own defense and security.
However, the scenario that the American senator's initiative is part of the broader framework of US pressure on its European NATO allies to accept its peace plan for Ukraine should not be ruled out.
What the senator claims
Republican Senator Thomas Massie introduced HR 6508, the NATO Accountability Act, aimed at the withdrawal of the US from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
"NATO is a relic of the Cold War. We must withdraw from NATO and use that money to defend our own country, not socialist countries," stated Representative Thomas Massie. "NATO was created to confront the Soviet Union, which collapsed over thirty years ago. Since then, US participation has cost American taxpayers trillions of dollars and continues to risk US involvement in foreign wars. Our Constitution did not authorize permanent foreign entanglements, something our Founders explicitly warned against. America should not be the world's 'security blanket'—especially when rich countries refuse to pay for their own defense," Massie said in his statement.
What the bill provides for
Specifically, this bill:
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Requires the President to formally notify NATO of US withdrawal in accordance with Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
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Concludes that NATO's original purpose during the Cold War is no longer consistent with current US national security interests.
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Finds that European NATO members possess sufficient economic and military capability to provide for their own defense.
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Prohibits the use of American taxpayer money for NATO's common budgets, including the civil budget, the military budget, and the Security Investment Program.
It does not serve US interests
It is noted that American Senator Mike Lee (from Utah) introduced a parallel bill, S.2174, in the US Senate. This also calls on the US President to notify NATO of the American withdrawal, agrees that NATO, since the Cold War, has lost its original mission and no longer serves current US national interests, expresses the view that the US should not continue to fund the defense of other rich states, while the bill prevents the use of American taxpayer money to fund NATO's common budget, such as the military and civil budgets, as well as the NATO Security Investment Program.
The Trump rhetoric
Although US President Donald Trump has not yet commented on these two bills by the Republican senators, it is obvious that many of the arguments articulated in these bills align with his rhetoric. After all, Trump himself has threatened the US would leave NATO if European allies do not fulfill their financial obligations to the Alliance. During his presidential term, he has been particularly critical of member states that did not meet the targets for their defense spending.
However, in his interview with Politico, Trump pointed out that, thanks to his own actions, NATO Allies increased their defense spending target from 2% to 5%. "NATO calls me 'dad'. I have a lot to say there. Look, I raised the percentage of GDP, the GDP target, from 2% to 5%. They weren't paying the 2%, but they're paying the 5%. And they're paying it because, when we provide something, NATO pays for it—and I guess that goes to Ukraine," Trump characteristically mentioned.
The new National Security Strategy
Furthermore, the arguments of the two Republican senators align with the "spirit" of the new National Security Strategy recently presented by the White House. This strategy states that "the United States rejects the ill-fated concept of global dominance for itself."
"We must prevent the global, and in some cases even regional, dominance of other countries. This does not mean that we must shed blood and spend money to limit the influence of all great and medium powers of the world. The unwarranted influence of the largest, richest, and most powerful states is an eternal truth of international relations. This reality sometimes requires cooperation with partners to prevent ambitions that threaten our common interests," the text notes.
Furthermore, it is stated that the US wants Europe to take primary responsibility for securing its defense, without the domination of any "hostile power." "Our common policy towards Europe must prioritize... providing Europe with the ability to stand on its own feet and act as a group of united sovereign states, including taking primary responsibility for its defense, without the domination of any hostile power," the text claims.
US withdrawal from NATO is unlikely
These two Republican senators have previously voiced their objections regarding US participation in NATO, characteristically stating that it is "a great deal for Europe, but a bad deal for America."
It is estimated, however, that the reaction of these two senators will not lead to US withdrawal from NATO, especially since Trump succeeded in increasing the Europeans' participation to 5% regarding their defense spending.
Furthermore, the stance of Massie and Lee contradicts current American legislation. According to the National Defense Authorization Act for 2024, signed by President Joe Biden in late 2023, withdrawal from NATO requires the consent of the Senate. Specifically, the bill stipulates that the President cannot terminate or suspend US membership in NATO without the approval of the Senate and the support of two-thirds of the senators present.
However, there is no dynamic for such a development, especially since many American senators point out that such a scenario would entail risks of weakening US international influence and stability in Europe, while concern over a possible destabilization of the global order remains high.
Pressure on Europe
Moreover, Trump himself had not called for complete withdrawal from NATO, but had repeatedly expressed his disappointment with American spending and maintained that US participation should be reviewed under 21st-century conditions.
The renewed mobilization of the two Republican senators may potentially be part of the broader framework of exerting as much pressure as possible on the European side, in order to demonstrate a more conciliatory stance towards US initiatives and the peace plan regarding the resolution of the Ukrainian issue.
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