President Trump proposed that the U.S. should have tested NATO’s commitment by invoking Article 5 in response to the southern border crisis.
President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday that the United States should have considered invoking Article 5 of NATO in response to the ongoing crisis at the southern border. This clause, which asserts that an attack on one member is an attack on all, could have been used to compel NATO member countries to assist in securing the U.S. border.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated, “Maybe we should have put NATO to the test: Invoked Article 5, and forced NATO to come here and protect our Southern Border from further Invasions of Illegal Immigrants, thus freeing up large numbers of Border Patrol Agents for other tasks.”
Trump’s remarks come amid his ongoing skepticism regarding NATO’s commitment to supporting the United States. Earlier this month, he expressed a sentiment of loyalty to NATO, stating, “We will always be there for NATO, even if they won’t be there for us.”
His comments followed a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, where Trump discussed the “framework of a future deal regarding Greenland.” He indicated that if this deal is finalized, it would benefit both the United States and all NATO nations.
In the wake of this meeting, Trump also announced his decision to abandon a plan to impose tariffs on NATO members that had sent troops to Greenland. Initially, he had proposed a 10% tariff on goods from these countries, set to take effect on February 1.
In an exclusive interview with Fox News, Rutte supported Trump’s call for increased security in the Arctic region, highlighting the growing threat posed by Russia and China. He praised Trump’s leadership in pushing NATO countries to increase their defense spending, stating, “I would argue tonight with you on this program he was the one who brought a whole of Europe and Canada up to this famous 5%.” This increase in spending is seen as crucial for equalizing defense expenditures and enhancing security.
Previously, NATO members had committed to spending 2% of their GDP on defense, but they have now agreed to raise this figure to 5% for defense and national security infrastructure.
Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for further comment on Trump’s statements and proposals.
According to Fox News, Trump’s remarks reflect his ongoing focus on national security and international alliances as he navigates complex geopolitical issues.