NATO’s enduring pattern of internal crises over the years From Suez Canal to Iraq

"NATO wasn't there when we needed them, and they won't be there if we need them again," was the remark made by US President Donald Trump following a private meeting with the alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House.

The NATO chief’s visit comes amid Trump’s renewed consideration of withdrawing from the transatlantic military alliance, after several NATO countries resisted his calls to assist the US in reopening the Strait of Hormuz to ease rising global oil prices.

Trump’s frustration with NATO is not new, however, as he questioned the value of the alliance during his first presidential term already. While tensions between Washington and the bloc long predate Trump, a publication by the British "History Extra" outlet recalls that the relationship has faced repeated strains over the decades.

The transatlantic alliance was formed in the immediate aftermath of World War II, a period marked by growing Western concern over the expanding influence of the Soviet Union.

In March 1946, Winston Churchill warned that an “Iron Curtain” had descended “from Stettin in the Baltic to Trieste in the Adriatic”. A year later, in an effort to contain Soviet expansion, President Harry Truman announced the ‘Truman Doctrine’, pledging US support to democratic nations under threat from communist forces.

East–West tensions intensified further during the Berlin Blockade, prompting 12 nations to establish a formal military alliance. This led to the creation of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), built on the principle of collective defence.

It was not long, however, before internal divisions began to surface.

Suez Canal, 1956

One of the earliest major tests of NATO cohesion came during the Suez Crisis.

The Suez Canal—linking the Red Sea with the Mediterranean through Egypt—is a vital global trade route, comparable in strategic importance to the Strait of Hormuz today. Its significance was particularly high for the British and French empires, as it dramatically shortened shipping routes between Europe and Asia.

Built by the French, Egyptian leader Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalized the canal in 1956 as he was seeking to assert national control and remove European influence. In response, Britain and France, with Israeli support, launched a military operation to seize it—triggering sharp opposition from Washington. Angered by the lack of consultation, US President Dwight D. Eisenhower forced a withdrawal by threatening severe economic consequences, which would be completed by the end of the year.

The episode left lasting damage: British Prime Minister Anthony Eden resigned in humiliation, while France grew increasingly distrustful of US leadership. Although the crisis occurred outside NATO’s core geographic area, the history publication points out, that it placed a significant strain on the alliance.

Cuban Missile Crisis, 1962

Further tensions emerged during the so-called "Cuban Missile Crisis", a nuclear standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union.

This time, it was European allies that were frustrated by what they saw as insufficient consultation by Washington—particularly given how close the world came to nuclear war.

French-US tensions, 1966

European dissatisfaction with US dominance culminated in what many consider NATO’s most serious Cold War crisis. In 1966, French President Charles de Gaulle withdrew France from NATO’s integrated military command, citing concerns over American influence and the risk of being drawn into US-led conflicts. He also demanded the removal of all US troops from French territory.

The move reflected broader French ambitions: to develop an independent nuclear deterrent, reduce reliance on Anglo-American leadership, and avoid automatic involvement in a potential conflict between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. France also sought greater freedom to pursue its own diplomatic arrangements with Eastern Bloc countries.

Various other clashing points

Meanwhile, even the often-cited US–UK “special relationship” came under strain during the 1960s, largely due to the Vietnam War. The government of Harold Wilson declined repeated US requests to send troops, souring relations with President Lyndon B. Johnson.

Despite these challenges, none of the Cold War-era crises led to NATO’s collapse. The alliance endured and remained a central pillar of Western strategy during the heightened East–West tensions of the 1980s.

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, internal disagreements resurfaced as NATO sought to redefine its role without its primary adversary. Diverging views became particularly evident during the US-led “War on Terror.”

After an initial display of unity following the September 11 attacks—when NATO invoked Article 5 for the first and only time—divisions soon emerged, especially over the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

Over its history, NATO—now comprising 32 member states—has faced repeated internal disputes and periodic crises. Yet it has endured, largely because of shared strategic interests centred on maintaining stability and prosperity across Europe and the North Atlantic. Whether the alliance can withstand current tensions with the Trump administration and retain its most powerful member remains to be seen.

By Nazrin Sadigova