NATO modifies language on climate, diversity to avoid Trump backlash

NATO has adjusted its language surrounding climate, gender, and diversity issues in response to concerns over potential backlash from a second-term Trump administration.

As part of new NATO legislation being developed by its committees and working groups, terms related to climate change, women, and security have been rephrased to align more closely with the policies favoured by the US. This shift reflects the uncertainty surrounding NATO’s future during a possible return of President Donald Trump to the White House, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Under Trump’s administration, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives have faced significant opposition. The Trump administration has moved to block funding for universities supporting DEI programmes and has also targeted federal programmes that incorporate such measures. Additionally, the Pentagon has been working to eliminate remnants of these initiatives within its structure.

“Everyone sees on the news where the Trump admin stands; you don’t want to do anything that shoots yourself in the foot,” one official explained. As part of these adjustments, terms like “green technologies” have been swapped for the broader term “innovative technologies,” and “climate” has been reframed as an “operational environment.” This change is meant to ensure the language is more acceptable to all 32 NATO member countries, including the US. In addition, discussions surrounding “gender” or “women, peace and security” are being carefully avoided. 

One official noted, “Everyone knows that the worst thing you can do is present it as a diversity issue,” adding that these topics are now framed in terms that align with military objectives. “It’s not a woke agenda, it’s part of a military agenda, and now more people are pricking up their ears to make sure it is spoken about in military terms,” the official explained.

Despite these language changes, NATO’s climate advisers, who focus on addressing environmental challenges during military operations, remain unaffected by these alterations. Trump has consistently criticised European countries for relying on the US for defence funding, urging them to increase their contributions. He has also called for raising NATO’s defence spending target to 5 per cent of GDP, up from the current 2 per cent. 

However, Trump’s rhetoric has also questioned NATO’s commitment to collective defence, threatening to abandon allies that fail to meet their military spending obligations. In addition to defence concerns, the Trump administration has proposed a significant 48 per cent cut to the State Department’s budget, a move that could reduce funding for NATO’s internal budget as well as for the United Nations and other international organisations.

By Naila Huseynova