Context: 

This editorial is based on the news “What did Trump say about NATO funding and what is Article 5?” which was published in the Indian Express. Recently, former US President Donald Trump raised a storm of criticism over those NATO members who failed to spend enough on defense and would even encourage Russia to attack them.

• He made damaging remarks by mentioning that he won’t protect any Ally who pays too little, which is undermining the foundation of collective defense guaranteeing security.

About NATO

• Founded: In 1949 as a political and military alliance of North American and European countries.
• Key Purpose: To counter the Soviet Union threat amid rising Cold War tensions.
• Core Principles: It works on:
  • Collective Defense: Article 5 commits that an attack on one Ally is an attack on all. It is a cornerstone of NATO’s credibility as a security provider.
  • Consensus-based Decisions: All decisions taken through consultation and consensus. But the US has outsized influence given its predominance.
• Membership: It expanded in the post Cold War era to include former communist bloc states in East Europe. Presently, 31 member countries. 
  • Mostly European nations, along with the US and Canada.
  • Newest Entrant: Finland (2022) over Russia-Ukraine conflict.
  • Sweden also applied; awaiting Hungary’s ratification.

NATO Funding

• NATO operates differently. 
• It has some common funds, to which all members contribute. 
• Own Defense Spending: The vast bulk of its strength comes from members’ own national defense spending, to maintain forces and buy arms that can also be used by NATO.
• Commitment: NATO members have committed to spending at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year on defense.

About Article 5 of NATO

• A Defence Ally: In Article 5 of the founding treaty, NATO members declared that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America “shall be considered an attack against them all”.
• Assistance to Party: NATO members would “assist the Party or Parties so attacked by taking forthwith, individually and in concert with the other Parties, such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force”.
  • However, Article 5 stops short of a commitment to an automatic military response to help an ally under attack. It means, Article 5 depends on clear statements from political leaders that it will be backed up by action. 
    • By suggesting he would not take military action to defend an ally, Trump undermined the assumptions that give Article 5 its power.

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