Skeptics of America’s involvement in NATO are increasingly optimistic that a future president, possibly Donald Trump or someone else, will grant their wishes to refocus on Asia or bring resources and troops back home. To properly right-size America’s presence in Europe, three steps should be taken. The first step involves immediate dedication to the cause, with the need for swift action through executive orders to start the process of disengaging militarily from Europe. The second step focuses on getting Europe to take America’s disengagement seriously, striking a balance between being polite yet firm in encouraging European leaders to increase defense spending and take on more responsibility for their own security.
The third step involves locking in these changes to prevent a future president from reversing them. Legislation should be pursued whenever possible to ensure that the changes have legal weight and are not easily undone. This includes pursuing updates to the North Atlantic Treaty itself to reflect new membership criteria based on defense spending percentages and burden-sharing. These moves would challenge conventional wisdom and the belief that the North Atlantic Treaty is sacrosanct, reminding American interventionists that it is changeable and not a holy document.
Former President Donald Trump’s administration made efforts to shift America away from Europe, but was hindered by timing issues and lack of dedication from key individuals within the administration. The next administration should start the disengagement process immediately, with all members committed to the goal of withdrawing American troops from Europe. A presidential proclamation declaring America’s intent to disengage militarily should be loudly and consistently reiterated by all public-facing members of the administration as well as domestic allies to highlight the shift in foreign policy.
European leaders may initially resist America’s push for increased defense spending and responsibility for their own security, as they have grown accustomed to American support. America’s ambassadors to key NATO countries should be enlisted to convey the message to their host countries’ publics, emphasizing the need for Europe to step up and take on a larger role in their own defense. Future-proofing these changes against potential reversal by a future president includes pursuing legislation and updates to the North Atlantic Treaty itself to ensure that these shifts in policy are lasting and not easily undone. By challenging conventional wisdom and emphasizing the changeability of the North Atlantic Treaty, these efforts aim to reshape America’s role in NATO and global security.
