US President Donald Trump has intensified his criticism of NATO, declaring the alliance a "paper tiger" and suggesting the United States could withdraw, following European nations' refusal to join a proposed naval force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In an interview with The Telegraph, Trump stated, "I would say [it's] beyond reconsideration," adding, "I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin knows that too, by the way." The comments come amid heightened tensions with Iran, which has blocked the strategic waterway. NATO members have not responded to Trump's call for military action, deepening transatlantic rifts.
Under Article 13 of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty, any member can withdraw by formally notifying the United States, the treaty's depositary, with the exit taking effect one year later. While the process is clear for other nations, the US faces additional legal constraints. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 includes an amendment requiring a two-thirds Senate majority or an Act of Congress before the president can suspend, terminate or withdraw from the treaty. It also bans the use of federal funds for such a withdrawal. Rafael Loss of the European Council on Foreign Relations noted the law makes formal withdrawal "very difficult," though legal challenges could arise over executive authority. Any attempt would likely end up in the Supreme Court, with disputes over presidential power versus congressional oversight.
Experts warn that even without formal exit, US disengagement could cripple NATO. Ian Bremmer of Eurasia Group stated that if allies cannot trust US commitment to Article 5 mutual defence, "the alliance is already broken in the way that matters most." Loss argued that a non-committed US presence might be more damaging than a clean departure, as it creates uncertainty. Trump's past remarks, including suggesting the annexation of fellow NATO members Canada and Greenland, have amplified concerns about his stance on alliance cohesion.
When Trump calls NATO a "paper tiger," he is not just insulting an alliance—he is testing the limits of American power within it. His claim that withdrawal is "beyond reconsideration" exposes a strategy not of legal exit, but of deliberate erosion, where rhetoric precedes action and commitment fades without formal notice. If the US remains in NATO only in name, the real damage isn't in paperwork—it's in the shattered trust that no treaty clause can repair.
