Fact check: How can a country actually withdraw from NATO?
Fact check: How can a country actually withdraw from NATO?
Recent weeks have seen US President Donald Trump intensify his criticism of NATO, fueled by the ongoing conflict in Iran. His recent remarks, labeling the alliance a “paper tiger,” followed a lack of unified response from NATO members to his call for a naval force to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Tehran had effectively closed. “I would say [it’s] beyond reconsideration,” Trump stated in a UK newspaper interview. “I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way.”
Withdrawal Process Under NATO Rules
Article 13 of the 1949 North Atlantic Treaty outlines the procedure for withdrawal. A country must formally notify the US, which then informs other members. After a year, the withdrawal becomes official. This process seems clear for European nations and Canada, as long as they meet their own legal requirements. However, the US’s unique position as both a member and the treaty’s depositary complicates matters.
“The law makes it formally very difficult for the president to take the US out of the treaty,” Rafael Loss, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told Euronews’ fact-checking team. “Of course, there might be differing legal interpretations of the competencies of the US’s different legislative branches.”
As the depositary, the US government would notify the Department of State of its intent to withdraw. It would then inform other NATO members, fulfilling its obligations. In theory, the US could stay as the depositary without being a full member, but other countries would likely amend the treaty to transfer those duties.
Legislative Hurdles for US Withdrawal
Domestically, the US faces significant challenges in exiting NATO. In 2023, President Joe Biden signed legislation requiring a two-thirds Senate majority to withdraw from the alliance. The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 states that the president cannot “suspend, terminate, denounce or withdraw” from the North Atlantic Treaty without such support or a congressional act. It also bars the use of federal funds for withdrawal efforts.
“Trump can’t legally withdraw from NATO without Senate consent,” said Ian Bremmer, president and founder of Eurasia Group, in a post on X.
Experts highlight that even if the US formally left, it would still face legal battles, possibly reaching the Supreme Court. The government would argue that the president has the authority to exit a treaty, while opponents claim this action could be unconstitutional. Additionally, other US-specific statutes related to NATO, such as budget contributions and defense obligations, would come under scrutiny.
A key worry is a scenario where the US reduces its NATO commitments and abandons Article 5’s mutual defense pledge. While not fully exiting, this could undermine the alliance’s effectiveness. “Hollowing out NATO in such a way, especially with the US’s vast resources, could fundamentally damage its operations,” Loss noted. “We can’t exclude the possibility [that the US w”
