The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is facing the worst trust crisis since the end of the Cold War, said Michal Bartek, vice chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Slovak Republic’s National Council.
Bartek said on Sunday that U.S. President Donald Trump's continued criticism of NATO members is aggravating the disagreements between the United States and Europe.
"NATO is not doing very well now. That is true. Donald Trump’s words are only the tip of the iceberg. The disagreements have been there for a long time. Now they are more visible. This is one of the most serious trust crises in NATO since the Cold War ended. Many countries ask if blindly following Washington is still in their interest," he said.
When NATO chief Mark Rutte arrived in Washington for a visit aimed at repairing the crumbling transatlantic alliance, U.S. President Donald Trump met him with a measure of animus, saying "NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again."
Since the war in Iran began, Trump has demanded that NATO allies join the United States to open the Strait of Hormuz, but his calls have been rejected. Spain and Italy even refused to allow the U.S. military to use their airspace, further enraging the U.S. president.
According to Barktek, the reluctance of European countries lies not only in the risks imposed by the war on Iran, but also in the memories of past wars.
"Europe has experiences it remembers well -- Iraq, Afghanistan -- and the results? Instability, migration, and economic problems. From a European view, it's simple: why should European countries face the results of wars that did not happen on their land and are often not in their interest? Here we see a bigger picture. Many countries now prefer a multipolar world, where sovereignty and dialogue are respected," he said.
The rift in the transatlantic alliance has widened during Trump's second term, fueled by his decision to launch the war on Iran on Feb. 28 and earlier tensions over his push to take over Denmark's Greenland.
"Trust is getting weaker. There is no doubt. When a partner changes its tone every year -- one year pushing military spending, next year threatening to leave NATO -- it breaks stability. Transatlantic relations were built on predictability and mutual respect. If this disappears, NATO becomes weaker," said Bartek.
Trump has recently threatened to fully withdraw the United States from NATO, although he cannot legally do so without congressional approval.
NATO faces worst trust crisis since end of Cold War: Slovak legislator
