CIRIS

Research Articles

Vol. 6 (2025): Panoply Journal

Trump’s NATO Initiative: Controversial Rhetoric or Necessary Reform?

DOI: https://doi.org/10.71166/7eqe8t53
Submitted
22 May 2025
Published
26 July 2025

Abstract

This paper examines President Donald J. Trump’s initiatives to enhance the North Atlantic Treaty Organization's (NATO) burden-sharing principle, focusing on his proposal for NATO members to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP – a significant escalation from the current 2% benchmark. Utilizing Toulmin’s method for critical analysis, this paper seeks to explore the strategic, economic, and political implications of these initiatives, emphasizing their potential impact on NATO’s operational stability and Europe’s collective defense capabilities. While Trump’s rhetoric was controversial and divisive among allies, this analysis argues that his proposals were timely and necessary given escalating global tensions and emerging security threats. This study also highlights the insufficiency of European NATO members’ current defense contributions, which, if left unresolved, could undermine the long-term stability and security of the European continent. This paper suggests that a more equitable distribution of GDP investments across NATO member states could contribute to a stabilized geopolitical environment and strengthen the Alliance’s capacity to address future challenges.

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