The possibility of a future Trump presidency is hanging over the NATO summit in Washington, D.C., as President Joe Biden struggles to consolidate support for his campaign. Biden has often criticized former President Donald Trump’s approach to NATO in his speeches, claiming, “Trump wants to eviscerate NATO.” Biden is wrong, as Trump’s pugnacity and unpredictability could be the necessary spark to strengthen NATO in an increasingly dangerous world.
Before discussing the United States’s approach to NATO, it is important to remember the state of Europe’s militaries. The United Kingdom is the biggest military spender and hasn’t been able to field an armored division since the Gulf War. Germany, the wealthiest European country, could only fight for two days before its military ran out of ammunition. NATO is a military alliance, not a social club, and to fulfill its priorities, it needs militarily strong members.
