Lawmaker Warns Trump NATO Withdrawal Would Be Illegal, Harm U.S. Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. — An Indian American lawmaker is warning that any attempt by President Donald Trump to withdraw the United States from NATO without congressional approval would violate federal law and jeopardize national security.
In a letter sent following Trump’s recent meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed “deep concern” over the president’s remarks suggesting he is considering leaving the alliance.
“Any unilateral US exit from NATO would be both strategically reckless and blatantly illegal under current law. Moreover, your rhetoric on this issue risks strengthening our adversaries at the expense of our own security,” Krishnamoorthi wrote.
The congressman pointed to Trump’s recent statements indicating he was “absolutely” weighing withdrawal, had expressed “disgust with NATO,” and suggested “we don’t need them.” He also raised concern over Trump’s assertion that “I don’t need Congress for that decision.”
Krishnamoorthi said such comments call into question the administration’s commitment to U.S. law and longstanding international alliances.
He cited a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 that bars a president from unilaterally exiting NATO. Under the law, a withdrawal would require either approval from two-thirds of the Senate or an act of Congress.
“Congress has acted to ensure that dismantling one of the most consequential alliances in American history cannot be done by executive action alone, and doing so would be flagrantly illegal,” he wrote.
The Illinois Democrat warned that even raising doubts about U.S. commitment to NATO could have immediate consequences.
“Abandoning NATO would undermine US credibility with allies and partners worldwide, embolden adversaries such as Russia and China, weaken collective deterrence at a time of heightened global instability, and erode decades of bipartisan American leadership in building a stable international order,” he said.
He added that rhetoric alone could weaken the alliance’s deterrent power, which depends heavily on the credibility of U.S. leadership.
Krishnamoorthi urged the president to reaffirm the United States’ commitment to NATO and its allies, emphasizing the alliance’s long-standing role in maintaining global security.
Founded in 1949, NATO remains a cornerstone of U.S. defense policy in Europe, with its collective defense principle serving as a key element of deterrence for decades. (Source: IANS)
