Will the U.S. withdraw from NATO during Trump's presidency? Experts share their insights on the possibility and implications of such a move.

The United States is unlikely to exit NATO during the tenure of the 47th President Donald Trump. However, the question remains open regarding how Washington will approach Article 5 and support for its allies.

This was discussed by experts in the article RBK-Ukraine"NATO During Trump: Can the US Leave the Alliance and What Would It Mean?".

As explained by Pavel Zhovnirenko, head of the public organization (PO) "Center for Strategic Studies," it is likely that Trump will cease his threats regarding the U.S. withdrawal from NATO. Previously, the Republican used such threats to "motivate" alliance partners to increase defense spending to 2% of GDP, which, according to the expert, was akin to "blackmail."

At the same time, the concept of "paying the bills" may be broader, and it is uncertain if Trump will introduce other demands related to specific alliance members. As of now, not all members of the alliance have managed to reach the 2% GDP defense spending target.

"I can't imagine that the United States will formally exit NATO, but what attitude will be taken towards Article 5 and assistance to other alliance countries is an open question," noted analyst Andreas Umland from the Stockholm Center for Eastern European Studies.

Zhovnirenko added that a policy of non-intervention aligns with Washington's previous behaviors during world wars. In the future, the U.S. will likely delay direct involvement in any military operations, similar to its approach during both world wars.

"I don't want to be a 'Cassandra,' but it seems that the U.S. may need a new Pearl Harbor to engage fully," the expert added.

Trump's Threats to Leave NATO

During his first presidency, Trump urged NATO allies to intensify their efforts to meet their financial obligations within NATO, specifically by raising defense spending to at least 2% of GDP. Following the onset of the full-scale war

Ultimately, the full-scale war in Ukraine has prompted Western countries to significantly increase their military budgets.

Former President of the European Council Charles Michel asserted the need for the European Union to transition to a "military economy" due to the potential threat from Russia.

Norway, for its part, as reported by the media, plans to double its military spending over the next 12 years due to its location near strategically important waters.