In a speech on Wednesday night, Trump criticized U.S. allies but stopped short of condemning NATO, as many experts thought he might. That reality is sinking in for Europeans, who have counted on NATO as a bulwark against an increasingly assertive Russia. But while many European officials until recently believed that Trump could be kept on board with pomp and flattery, fewer now hold that belief, according to conversations with dozens of former and current U.S. and European officials. "It's a terrible situation for NATO to be in," said Jamie Shea, a former senior NATO official who is now a senior fellow at the Friends of Europe think tank. Analysts say European nations have good reason to keep the U.S. engaged in NATO despite doubts over whether Trump would come to their defense.

Source: The Standard April 03, 2026 11:43 UTC