Pentagon declines to reaffirm NATO’s collective defence, says up to Trump
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US Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth has criticised NATO member states for not being willing to stand with the US in its time of need.
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth declined on March 31 to reaffirm the US commitment to NATO’s collective defence, saying that would be up to President Donald Trump after European allies had failed to stand with the United States in the war against Iran.
The remarks by Mr Hegseth at a Pentagon briefing were extraordinary, given that collective defence lies at the heart of the NATO alliance, which was formed in 1949 with the primary aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack on allied territory.
Any signal by the US that it might not be willing to defend NATO allies in the event of attack by Russia or another adversary could severely weaken the alliance even if Mr Trump opts against withdrawing from it altogether, something that may require consent by Congress.
Asked by Reuters at a news briefing if the US is still committed to NATO’s collective defence, Mr Hegseth said: “As far as NATO is concerned, that’s a decision that will be left to the President. But I’ll just say a lot has been laid bare.”
In apparent reference to tensions with NATO allies France, Italy, Spain and Britain, Mr Hegseth said “when we ask for additional assistance or simple access, basing and overflight, we get questions or roadblocks or hesitations”.
“You don’t have much of an alliance if you have countries that are not willing to stand with you when you need them. (Mr Trump is) simply pointing that out, and ultimately, it’ll be his decision of what that looks like,” Mr Hegseth said.
Experts have long warned that such remarks could also encourage Russia to test NATO members’ readiness to enforce the alliance’s Article 5, which states that an armed attack against one member state is an attack on all.
The Iran war has exacerbated tensions between the US and Europe that have mounted since the start of Mr Trump’s second term in office in 2025 over everything from Mr Trump’s review of their US$2 trillion (S$2.57 trillion) trading relationship to his demands for ownership of Greenland, an autonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark.
Europe is also nervously watching Mr Trump’s efforts to broker an end to the war between Russia and Ukraine, with some senior European officials concerned Mr Trump appears to support an agreement in Moscow’s favour.
France has refused to allow Israel to use its airspace for a resupply flight carrying American weapons being used in the war against Iran, and Italy denied permission for US military aircraft to land at the Sigonella airbase in Sicily before heading to the Middle East, sources told Reuters. Spain said publicly on March 30 that it had closed its airspace to US planes involved in attacks on Iran.
Mr Trump has also repeatedly blasted Britain, America’s closest European ally, for not joining the US when it launched the war. On March 31, he singled out Britain in a social media post where he said securing the Strait of Hormuz, now blocked by Iran, would be left to countries who needed Middle Eastern oil.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil!” REUTERS
