Part 5/10:
There is a growing recognition amongst certain analysts that the U.S. security guarantee may be weakening. As European leaders strive to keep the U.S. committed to NATO, they might be overlooking the urgency of developing an independent European defense framework. Trump’s ambiguous declarations regarding NATO commitments have resulted in increased concerns over whether U.S. support can be counted on in times of crisis.
In a recent interview, Trump stated that his commitment to NATO "depends on your definition," effectively undermining the deterrent credibility necessary for the alliance. For NATO's deterrence to work, it must be grounded in the belief that the U.S. would come to the aid of its allies, and statements like Trump's cast doubt on this belief.