Leading US senators from both parties reaffirmed support for NATO on Wednesday, April 2, emphasizing the alliance’s importance for US and global security.
In a joint statement, Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat, and Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican, said NATO remains “the most successful military alliance in history.”
Bipartisan support for alliance
The senators highlighted NATO’s role in ensuring US security for more than 70 years and noted that the alliance invoked collective defense following the Sept. 11 attacks.
“The United States must not take this sacrifice lightly,” they said, referring to allied troops who fought alongside US forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.
They added that the Senate would continue to support NATO, stressing that Americans are “safer when NATO is strong and united.”
Response to Trump’s remarks
The statement comes amid renewed criticism of NATO by President Donald Trump, who has suggested the United States could withdraw from the alliance.
Trump recently described NATO as a “paper tiger” and said US membership is “beyond reconsideration” following disagreements with allies over the war with Iran and efforts to secure shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has also said Washington may “re-examine” its relationship with NATO, citing disputes over burden-sharing and access to military bases.
Legal hurdles to withdrawal
Despite Trump’s rhetoric, any US withdrawal from NATO would face significant legal obstacles.
A 2023 law requires congressional approval before a president can exit the alliance, effectively giving lawmakers a decisive role in any such move.