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Fears of a NATO Withdrawal Rise as Trump Seeks a Return to Power
NYT via Yahoo ^ | December 9th, 2023 | Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage and Maggie Haberman

Posted on 12/09/2023 11:22:26 AM PST by Mariner

For 74 years, the NATO has been America’s most important military alliance. Presidents of both parties have seen NATO as a force multiplier enhancing the influence of the United States by uniting countries on both sides of the Atlantic in a vow to defend one another.

Donald Trump has made it clear that he sees NATO as a drain on U.S. resources by freeloaders. He has held that view for at least a quarter-century.

In his 2000 book, “The America We Deserve,” Trump wrote that “pulling back from Europe would save this country millions of dollars annually.” As president, he repeatedly threatened a U.S. withdrawal from the alliance.

Yet as he runs to regain the White House, Trump has said precious little about his intentions. His campaign website contains a single cryptic sentence: “We have to finish the process we began under my administration of fundamentally reevaluating NATO’s purpose and NATO’s mission.” He and his team refuse to elaborate.

That vague line has generated enormous uncertainty and anxiety among European allies and American supporters of the country’s traditional foreign policy role.

European ambassadors and think tank officials have been making pilgrimages to associates of Trump to inquire about his intentions. At least one ambassador, Finland’s Mikko Hautala, has reached out directly to Trump and sought to convince him of his country’s value to NATO as a new member, according to two people familiar with the conversations.

In interviews over the past several months, more than a half-dozen current and former European diplomats — speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of retribution from Trump should he win — said alarm was rising on Embassy Row and among their home governments that Trump’s return could mean not just the abandonment of Ukraine but a broader U.S. retreat from the continent and a gutting of the Atlantic alliance.

(Excerpt) Read more at yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: charliesavage; euelectionmeddling; jonathanswan; maggiehaberman; thenato; theputin; thetrump; ukelectionmeddling
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To: Mariner

I do not think Trump will exit NATO but he will make them contribute their fair share and not be dependent on enemies for energy etc.


21 posted on 12/09/2023 11:35:45 AM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
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To: kiryandil

LOL !


22 posted on 12/09/2023 11:37:15 AM PST by Reverend Wright ( Everything touched by progressives, dies !)
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To: Mariner

Neither was created to defend against the country that no longer exists.

Pretty funny that they’re even still around.


23 posted on 12/09/2023 11:37:32 AM PST by cuban leaf (It is easier to fool a man than to convince him he's being fooled. - Mark Twain)
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To: Mariner

To hell with the UN and NATO!


24 posted on 12/09/2023 11:39:01 AM PST by DFG
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To: dhs12345
Lol. And potentially getting us into a global thermonuclear war.

DAMN The Trump! Look at all the wars he has gotten us in over the last three years!!

25 posted on 12/09/2023 11:41:38 AM PST by kiryandil (China Joe and Paycheck Hunter - the Chink in America's defenses)
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To: Responsibility2nd

Along with the Washington Compost.


26 posted on 12/09/2023 11:44:34 AM PST by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: cotton1706

Just like the UN.


27 posted on 12/09/2023 11:44:53 AM PST by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: DFG

Well said.


28 posted on 12/09/2023 11:45:03 AM PST by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Darksheare

It’s time those obnoxious crybabies get a taste of their own medicine.


29 posted on 12/09/2023 11:45:39 AM PST by No name given (Anonymous is who you’ll know me as)
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To: Mariner

At the end of WWII Europe was a shambles, the industrial base destroyed. The USA was standing tall with great power in every aspect. The USA essentially rebuilt Europe, friend and enemy, and in doing so formed NATO for mutual protection. Europe grew and industrially became a competitor of their benefactor. The US fell behind because they were operating older, worn-out factories whereas Europe had new ones. And our wise leadership (sc) decided we were not to be a manufacturing nation any longer and began sending our companies away - everywhere.

But NATO turned into a good military force, but good because it was US-centric. Our leadership, equipment and armed forces - and our funding.

If you have a child and fail to make him/her take responsibility for their lives, moving out of home and making a life for themselves, they remain a child at age 40. They have the wherewithal to provide for themselves now. They are big boys. Instead of a solid line relationship we can have a dotted line relationship.

That’s what has happened to NATO. They are still sucking off the US tit!!!! They need to be weaned off.


30 posted on 12/09/2023 11:46:15 AM PST by elpadre
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To: dhs12345
Kind of arrogant of them. After all who is paying the bills?

Yes, exactly right. Sick and tired of us overpaying while those cheapskates in Europe don't pay in much at all - for their own defense! All President Trump wants is fairness in paying the bills!

31 posted on 12/09/2023 11:46:52 AM PST by roadcat
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To: Nateman
Both Britian and France have nuclear weapons. Europe can defend itself. Does it want to?

Also, Germany needs to be more assertive. If Germany wants to support Ukraine, then it needs to do more to pay their share.

32 posted on 12/09/2023 11:47:24 AM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: kiryandil

Yup. We are all dead. Lol.


33 posted on 12/09/2023 11:47:37 AM PST by dhs12345
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To: BenLurkin

Came to say the same. They are determined to paint him as a dictator.


34 posted on 12/09/2023 11:48:58 AM PST by madison10 (He watching over Israel slumbers not, nor sleeps.)
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To: Mariner
NATO [is] a parasite

The best job in the world is to be a NATO civilian bureaucrat. Not much work, great pay, housing subsidies, near diplomatic status, free trips back home, no income tax [unless the US-IRS is involved], live the life of Riley in great places in Europe.

....so long as you never need a resume that suggests you did something and so long as you never have an urge to try to accomplish something beyond racking up notches on your belt for racking up fellow staff members of the opposite [or same sex or whatever sex they pretend to be]. Hunter would have been at home except that however good the pay and benefits for normal folks it would not sustain his life cycle and certainly not with cuts for the big guy.

35 posted on 12/09/2023 11:50:33 AM PST by AndyJackson
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To: Mariner

“ For 74 years, the NATO has been America’s most important military alliance.”

Nonsense. Out now.


36 posted on 12/09/2023 11:51:31 AM PST by Jim Noble (The future belongs to those who show up)
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To: Mariner

Oh noes...the EUroweenies might have to defend themselves! 😨


37 posted on 12/09/2023 11:53:35 AM PST by mac_truck (aide toi et dieu t'aidera)
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To: Mariner

The ONLY purpose of NATO is to start wars that keep the appropriations flowing to the Military Industrial Complex…and keep the American political class flush with grift.


38 posted on 12/09/2023 11:54:31 AM PST by Scott from the Left Coast (“We should not assume civilization is robust”)
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To: Mariner
US out of NATO.

That's been a common theme of real Patriot FReepers for Decades, with "US out of the UN" running a close second.

What would the world's children do without Blue Helmets?

39 posted on 12/09/2023 11:55:18 AM PST by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: Mariner
And it is about time the US let the EU swim in the deep end of the pool on their own. The wimps should be able to defend themselves from the dreaded Bear if they want to. The numbers add up but the size of the fight in the dog doesn't. Pussies and cowards populate the EU just like we are becoming.

Some numbers are important:

Population of Ukraine 44 million, GDP 0.2 trillion

Population of Russia 143 million, GDP 1.8 trillion

Population of EU 448 million, Combined GDP of EU 18.35 million

Seems the EU should be able to manage on their own if they want to and are forced to. Pull the US, screw 'em.

Once again, Trump isn't the boogie man, Trump is right.

40 posted on 12/09/2023 11:55:20 AM PST by Sequoyah101 (Procrastination is just a form of defiance)
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