President Donald Trump remarked on Thursday that the U.S. might have tested NATO’s resolve by requiring member states to engage in the ongoing situation at the southern border.
On his Truth Social platform, Trump suggested that invoking Article V—NATO’s collective defense clause—could have put the alliance to a “test,” treating any attack on one member as an attack on all.
“I think perhaps we should have tried NATO,” he stated, “by calling upon Article 5 to protect our southern border from illegal immigration, which would allow more Border Patrol agents to focus on their other responsibilities.”
This statement follows Trump questioning NATO’s willingness to support the U.S. in recent discussions.
Earlier in the month, he stated on social media, “We will always be there for NATO, even if NATO won’t be there for us.”
After a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the World Economic Forum, Trump mentioned having a “framework for a future agreement on Greenland” and expressed that such a deal might be beneficial for the U.S. and all NATO nations.
Following their meeting, Trump indicated he would withdraw plans to impose tariffs on certain NATO countries that had deployed troops to Greenland, previously threatening a 10% tariff starting February 1st.
In an interview, Rutte supported Trump’s stance, agreeing that the need for increased security in the Arctic is pressing, especially with concerns regarding Russia and China.
Rutte commended Trump for his leadership in encouraging NATO allies to increase their defense contributions.
“What I want to discuss tonight is how he brought Europe and Canada up to the significant 5% spending level. It’s crucial for us to balance our expenditures and ensure our protection. This is the framework we will work within,” Rutte added.
It was previously agreed that NATO members would raise their defense spending from 2% to 5% of GDP, focusing on national security enhancements.
Fox News Digital has sought comment from the White House.
