Trump Says U.S. Will Not Defend NATO Allies Behind On Defense Commitments

By Khumaer Bayas On Mar 6, 2025

Topline

President Donald Trump told reporters Thursday the U.S. would not defend North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies from a military attack if they are behind on defense spending encouraged by the organization, reiterating the stance he took on the campaign trail last year and expressing doubt NATO members would support the U.S. in a time of crisis.

Trump commented on NATO in the Oval Office on Thursday evening. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Trump said if a NATO ally is attacked and “is not going to pay, we’re not going to defend,” referring to NATO’s guideline asking members to dedicate 2% of their gross domestic product to defense spending.

“It’s common sense,” Trump added, saying if the U.S. was in trouble, he is “not so sure” NATO allies would help, specifically mentioning France.

NATO members such as Germany have expressed concern over Trump’s stance on the organization, with Freidrich Merz, who is poised to become the country’s next chancellor, saying last month NATO should “prepare for the possibility” of Trump abandoning Article 5, which says an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all 32 of them.

The U.S. is the only country to invoke Article 5, doing so in response to the Sept. 11 terror attacks and receiving military support from NATO members domestically and abroad in Afghanistan.

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What Is Nato’s 2% Guideline?

NATO members agreed in 2014 to commit 2% of their gross domestic product to defense spending in order to maintain military readiness. The agreement was made in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. NATO estimated 23 of its 32 members will have met the spending target in 2024, up from just 10 in 2023, according to a press release. NATO estimates say Poland committed the highest GDP amount to defense in 2024, allocating 4.1%, while the U.S. allocated 3.4%.

Which Countries Have Not Met Nato’s 2% Guideline?

NATO estimated in 2024 that countries not meeting the 2% threshold were Belgium, Canada, Croatia, Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal, Slovenia and Spain. Slovakia is estimated to have just reached the 2% threshold.

Tangent

Trump’s scrutiny of NATO members comes as he has faced criticism for cutting aid to Ukraine as it defends itself from an invasion launched by Russia more than three years ago. Trump, who has falsely claimed Ukraine started the war, has excluded Ukraine from peace talks between U.S. and Russian officials. The president, who engaged in a broadcast argument with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy last week over a stalled mineral deal, is reportedly planning to revoke temporary legal status for around 240,000 Ukrainians who left their home and came to the U.S. amid Russia’s invasion.

Key Background

Trump has repeatedly said the U.S. would not come to the defense of countries behind on defense spending. The president said on the campaign trail last year that NATO members not meeting the 2% threshold would “get no protection” and that Russia could do “whatever the hell they want” to such members. Trump has taken issue with other countries paying less than the U.S. under the NATO guideline and suggested members should commit 5% of their GDP on defense, though no country has made such a commitment, including the U.S. The president, who has threatened to withdraw from NATO, has also questioned Article 5, which says that an attack on one NATO member is an attack on all of them.