Kallas: No country can replace US role in NATO

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has said that no country would be able to take the place of the United States in NATO, responding to threats by US President Donald Trump to withdraw from the alliance.

In an interview with Estonia’s public broadcaster ERR, Kallas said NATO is fundamentally built on allied relations in which the United States plays a central role.

She argued that while the alliance depends on bilateral ties among its members, no single country could replace the US within its structure. At the same time, she acknowledged that the bilateral nature of these relationships presents challenges.

Kallas stressed that European countries should concentrate on strengthening their own defence capabilities in response to growing uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to the alliance.

She also suggested that Trump’s public criticism of NATO policies may reflect a desire to weaken the military bloc.

On April 1, the US president threatened to pull the United States out of NATO, describing the alliance as a “paper tiger” and criticising European allies for failing to support US actions against Iran. 

By Sabina Mammadli