Macron affirms France's loyalty to NATO amid Trump's criticism

On Thursday, President Donald Trump questioned whether NATO would come to the United States' defense if attacked, prompting a response from French President Emmanuel Macron who reaffirmed France’s role as a "loyal and faithful" ally of the U.S.

Trump’s doubts about NATO’s defense commitment followed his comments on defense spending, suggesting that the U.S. might reconsider its commitment to the alliance if member countries fail to meet military expenditure targets. His remarks were made just one day after his pick for NATO ambassador reassured senators of the administration’s “ironclad” support for the alliance.

While Trump has long criticized NATO for what he sees as an unfair distribution of defense costs, his comments have taken on new significance given his recent cordial relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin. These relationships raise concerns, especially as Trump continues to push for a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia, with NATO not directly involved in Ukraine’s defense.

In his statement, Trump expressed doubt that NATO countries would come to the U.S. aid if attacked, despite the fact that NATO’s Article 5 defense guarantee was invoked after the 9/11 attacks, which led to a large-scale operation in Afghanistan, involving French forces. Macron, in turn, reminded Trump of the deep historical ties between the U.S. and France, referencing the Marquis de Lafayette and American WWI and WWII contributions, which solidify France’s long-standing commitment to NATO.

Trump’s stance on NATO also aligns with his broader trade agenda, where he has expressed frustration over the U.S. paying a disproportionate share of NATO’s costs, even as some members fail to meet agreed-upon defense spending targets. He has linked NATO’s financial contributions with his broader trade negotiations, signaling that he might leverage the U.S. commitment to NATO in these talks.

Despite these tensions, NATO’s Secretary-General, Jens Stoltenberg, confirmed that many countries are meeting their defense spending goals, a development Trump has taken credit for, thanks to his pressure on other member nations.