Envoy: US rules out NATO exit but urges Europe to share more security burden

The United States does not intend to withdraw from NATO, but expects its European allies to take a more active role in ensuring their own security, US Ambassador to the Alliance Matthew Whitaker has said.

“We are a superpower, but our resources, such as aircraft carriers and troops, are not unlimited. And therefore we want Europe to do more things on its own,” he told RTL television, commenting on concerns raised in recent months by several European politicians and experts about Washington’s commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

According to Whitaker, the United States views the organisation as a key element of collective security and remains committed to NATO.

At the same time, the diplomat stressed that Washington expects European countries to ensure a “fairer distribution of the financial and military burden” within the bloc. He noted that many European states have already begun increasing their defence budgets, but said this process “must continue further”.

In April, US President Donald Trump said he was considering the possibility of reviewing US participation in NATO, arguing that the alliance had not supported Washington in the war with Tehran.