Watch: Are we witnessing the end of the US in NATO?

Published on 08/04/2026 - 9:49 GMT+2

Under the 1949 NATO treaty, the exit process seems simple. A state submits a ceremonial notice, and 1 twelvemonth later, they are out.

But nether US home law, it is simply a wholly antithetic story. In 2023, authorities was passed to forestall immoderate president from resigning unilaterally.

And to legally withdraw, US President Donald Trump would request a two-thirds supermajority successful the Senate oregon a circumstantial enactment of Congress.

And though nary 1 has ever afloat near the alliance, France came close.

In 1966, President Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO's subject command. US troops were ordered to permission French soil, and the confederation had to battalion up its office and determination from Paris to Brussels.

And it took much than 4 decades for France to rejoin the subject bid successful 2009.

However, adjacent if Trump cannot easy withdraw, experts pass helium could inactive travel a akin way and hollow retired Washington's participation.

He could severely slash funding, retreat cardinal personnel, oregon simply garbage to honour the communal defence pledge.

And if Washington stays successful the confederation successful sanction only, calling it a "paper tiger", 1 could accidental NATO is already weakened from within, having jeopardised the 1 happening that matters most: its credibility.

Watch the Euronews video successful the subordinate supra for the afloat story.