Donald Trump ‘poised to ditch NATO leadership’ as world holds breath ahead of Congress speech
Just hours before President Donald Trump is set to address a joint session of Congress, it has been claimed that he is considering pulling the U.S. out of it’s leadership role in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
The Daily Mail is reporting that Trump is removing the U.S. from it’s leadership position within NATO, a position the country has held since the alliance was formed following the end of World War II. Since then, the Supreme Allied Commander Europe has always been a senior US general.
Trump is reportedly insisting that European allies take a greater responsibility for European security. He also reportedly expects a British or French general to take the role of Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
This comes following a disastrous Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, that saw him and Vice President J.D Vance berate the Ukrainian leader. Trump also announced on Monday that his administration would be pausing all military aid to Ukraine.
A White House official said Trump is focused on reaching a peace deal and wants Zelenskyy “committed” to that goal. The official added that the U.S. was “pausing and reviewing” its aid to “ensure that it is contributing to a solution.” The official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the assistance.
The order will remain in effect until Trump determines that Ukraine has demonstrated a commitment to peace negotiations with Russia, the official said.
The halting of military aid comes some five years after Trump held up congressionally authorized assistance to Ukraine as he sought to pressure Zelenskyy to launch an investigation into Joe Biden, then a Democratic presidential candidate. The moment led to Trump’s first impeachment.
In the leadup to the 2024 election, Trump vowed a quick end to the war in Ukraine, even once boasting that he could bring a halt to the fighting in one day. He has shown increasing frustration with Zelenskyy over the war while simultaneously expressing confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom he has long admired, can be trusted to keep the peace if a truce is reached.
Trump earlier on Monday slammed Zelenskyy for suggesting that the end of the war likely “is still very, very far away.” Zelenskyy had suggested it would take time to come to an agreement to end the war as he tried to offer a positive take on the U.S.-Ukraine relationship in the aftermath of last week’s White House meeting.
