Latest news with #AmerExit
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
What is NATO? Calls for US exit spark debate over alliance's future
LOS ANGELES - A growing number of Republican lawmakers are advocating for the United States to leave NATO, with figures like Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) publicly questioning the alliance's relevance. The push, dubbed "AmerExit", comes as US-Ukraine relations remain tense, following stalled peace talks and Trump's decision to cut military aid to Ukraine. Lee, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), argued that NATO is moving on without the US, and suggested it's time for the US to "move on from NATO." Rep. Massie echoed these sentiments, calling NATO a "Cold War relic" that should be phased out. The debate escalated when Elon Musk, who now leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) under the Trump administration, expressed support for a US withdrawal, agreeing with a post stating that NATO no longer benefits the country. The backstory The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded on April 4, 1949, as a political and military alliance to counter the Soviet Union's influence in Europe. Its original 12 members included the US, Canada, and several Western European nations, committed to mutual defense under Article 5, which states that an attack on one member is an attack on all. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has expanded to 32 countries, with Finland and Sweden joining most recently amid concerns over Russia's aggression in Ukraine. What we know NATO's primary mission is to defend its member states and ensure European security, particularly in response to threats from Russia and other adversaries. The alliance operates on a collective defense principle, where an attack on one member is considered an attack on all. The United States is NATO's largest financial contributor, covering more than 50% of the alliance's total budget. In 2023, the US spent 3.3% of its GDP on defense, amounting to approximately $880 billion. This significant investment has allowed NATO to expand military operations, strengthen its eastern flank, and deploy troops and equipment near Russia and Ukraine as tensions rise. What we don't know Despite NATO's ongoing operations, uncertainty remains about how the alliance will respond if the US moves toward withdrawing. With the Trump administration reviewing aid to Ukraine, questions arise about whether this will result in a permanent shift in US-NATO relations. Additionally, if the US reduces its financial contributions, it is unclear how other NATO members, particularly Germany, France, and the UK, will adjust to cover potential funding gaps. The other side Despite calls from some lawmakers, withdrawing from NATO is not a simple process. Under the 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the president cannot unilaterally withdraw from the alliance without Congressional approval. The law requires either: A two-thirds majority approval in the Senate, or A separate act of Congress to authorize the withdrawal. Legal scholars suggest that if the executive branch attempted to exit NATO without Congressional approval, it would likely face a legal challenge. The dispute could escalate to the Supreme Court, where justices would have to determine whether the president has the authority to override Congress on treaty obligations. However, it remains unclear who would have legal standing to challenge such a move, though service members, NATO-allied nations, or property owners with ties to NATO operations could potentially bring a case. By the numbers A 2024 Pew Research Center poll found that 58% of Americans hold a favorable opinion of NATO. However, this number declined by four percentage points from the previous year, reflecting a growing partisan divide over the alliance's role. What's next While some Republican lawmakers and Musk advocate for an NATO exit, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has urged European allies to increase defense spending instead of relying so heavily on US funding. Trump has not publicly committed to withdrawing from NATO, but his administration's halted aid to Ukraine and calls for NATO reform indicate that changes in US policy toward the alliance may be coming. The Source This report is based on information from Fox News Digital, The Associated Press, and official NATO records, providing context on the alliance's role, funding, and strategic operations. It also incorporates data from the Pew Research Center, which tracks public opinion on NATO's favorability among Americans.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'AmerExit'? Republicans push for US to leave NATO amid stalled Ukraine peace negotiations
Momentum is building among some Republicans and SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to withdraw the U.S. from NATO amid stalled negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. While President Donald Trump reportedly privately floated pulling the U.S. from the alliance during his first term, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has publicly backed such efforts in recent weeks and said it's "time to leave" the alliance after NATO countries held an emergency meeting with Ukraine in London without the U.S. Lee said in an X post on Sunday that if "NATO is moving on without the U.S.," the U.S. should "move on from NATO." Lee also suggested various names for the movement on Monday. "What should we call the movement to get America out of NATO? AmerExit? NATexit?" Lee said in an X post on Monday, referencing Brexit, the term used to describe the U.K.'s withdrawal from the European Union. "It's a good thing our NATO allies give us such favorable trade terms based on the fact that we provide a disproportionate share of their security needs Oh wait ….They don't," Lee said in another Monday post on X. European Leaders On Edge As Prospect Looms Of Trump Pulling 20K Troops From Continent Read On The Fox News App Lee isn't the only lawmaker expressing such sentiments. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said Sunday in a post on X that "NATO is a Cold War relic that needs to be relegated to a talking kiosk at the Smithsonian." The lawmakers' comments also come after Musk, who is heading up the Trump administration's newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also shared support for withdrawing from NATO Saturday. Musk said "I agree" in a post on X, in response to another post claiming it's time for the U.S. to detach itself from NATO and the United Nations. The push to pull out of NATO coincides with stalled negotiations to end the war in Ukraine as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought for Ukraine to become a NATO member after Russia invaded his country in 2022. But Trump kicked Zelenskyy out of the White House on Friday after meeting to secure a deal, saying Zelenskyy was welcome back when he was ready for peace. Pulling the U.S. from NATO would require Congressional approval. A bipartisan provision included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Bill requires that the executive branch would need support from 60 senators, or passage of legislation in Congress, to pull out of the alliance. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is now Trump's Secretary of State, spearheaded the provision. World Leaders Back Zelenskyy Following Trump, Vance Oval Office Spat Scott Anderson, a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution think tank, said the provision paves the way for a legal battle should the executive branch attempt to unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from the alliance. "The logic is, essentially, you're teeing up a fight if the president tries to do this without Congress … it specifically does enact exactly that sort of prohibition and says, essentially, we're going to litigate this out and take it to the Supreme Court if you try and do this, which is the most Congress can do," Anderson told Fox News Digital. Even so, Anderson noted that it's not completely clear who would have legal standing to challenge an effort to withdraw from NATO, although Anderson said service members or people who own property in NATO countries are some who could arguably have standing and challenge the move. Most Americans maintain a favorable opinion of NATO, although support has dropped slightly in recent years. Fifty-eight percent of Americans hold a favorable view of the military alliance, according to a survey the Pew Research Center released in May 2024. However, that's four percentage points from the previous year, the survey said. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth urged NATO allies to beef up defense contributions to the alliance in February. "NATO should pursue these goals as well," Hegseth told NATO members in Brussels in February. "NATO is a great alliance, the most successful defense alliance in history, but to endure for the future, our partners must do far more for Europe's defense." "We must make NATO great again," he said. Jd Vance Steps Into Spotlight Defending Trump's Foreign Policy In Oval Office Dustup With Zelenskyy As of 2023, the U.S. spent 3.3% of its GDP on defense spending, amounting to $880 billion, according to the nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. More than 50% of NATO funding comes from the U.S., while other allies, like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, have contributed between 4% and 8% to NATO funding in recent years. Hegseth urged European allies to bolster defense spending from 2% to 5% of gross domestic product, as Trump has long advocated. NATO comprises more than 30 countries and was originally formed in 1949 to halt the spread of the Soviet article source: 'AmerExit'? Republicans push for US to leave NATO amid stalled Ukraine peace negotiations
Fox News
03-03-2025
- Business
- Fox News
'AmerExit'? Republicans push for US to leave NATO amid stalled Ukraine peace negotiations
Momentum is building among some Republicans and SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk to withdraw the U.S. from NATO amid stalled negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. While President Donald Trump reportedly privately floated pulling the U.S. from the alliance during his first term, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has publicly backed such efforts in recent weeks and said it's "time to leave" the alliance after NATO countries held an emergency meeting with Ukraine in London without the U.S. Lee said in an X post on Sunday that if "NATO is moving on without the U.S.," the U.S. should "move on from NATO." Lee also suggested various names for the movement on Monday. "What should we call the movement to get America out of NATO? AmerExit? NATexit?" Lee said in an X post on Monday, referencing Brexit, the term used to describe the U.K.'s withdrawal from the European Union. "It's a good thing our NATO allies give us such favorable trade terms based on the fact that we provide a disproportionate share of their security needs Oh wait ….They don't," Lee said in another Monday post on X. Lee isn't the only lawmaker expressing such sentiments. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., said Sunday in a post on X that "NATO is a Cold War relic that needs to be relegated to a talking kiosk at the Smithsonian." The lawmakers' comments also come after Musk, who is heading up the Trump administration's newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), also shared support for withdrawing from NATO Saturday. Musk said "I agree" in a post on X, in response to another post claiming it's time for the U.S. to detach itself from NATO and the United Nations. The push to pull out of NATO coincides with stalled negotiations to end the war in Ukraine as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has sought for Ukraine to become a NATO member after Russia invaded his country in 2022. But Trump kicked Zelenskyy out of the White House on Friday after meeting to secure a deal, saying Zelenskyy was welcome back when he was ready for peace. Pulling the U.S. from NATO would require Congressional approval. A bipartisan provision included in the 2024 National Defense Authorization Bill requires that the executive branch would need support from 60 senators, or passage of legislation in Congress, to pull out of the alliance. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., and then-Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who is now Trump's Secretary of State, spearheaded the provision. Scott Anderson, a fellow in governance studies at the Brookings Institution think tank, said the provision paves the way for a legal battle should the executive branch attempt to unilaterally withdraw the U.S. from the alliance. "The logic is, essentially, you're teeing up a fight if the president tries to do this without Congress … it specifically does enact exactly that sort of prohibition and says, essentially, we're going to litigate this out and take it to the Supreme Court if you try and do this, which is the most Congress can do," Anderson told Fox News Digital. Even so, Anderson noted that it's not completely clear who would have legal standing to challenge an effort to withdraw from NATO, although Anderson said service members or people who own property in NATO countries are some who could arguably have standing and challenge the move. Most Americans maintain a favorable opinion of NATO, although support has dropped slightly in recent years. Fifty-eight percent of Americans hold a favorable view of the military alliance, according to a survey the Pew Research Center released in May 2024. However, that's four percentage points from the previous year, the survey said. Meanwhile, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth urged NATO allies to beef up defense contributions to the alliance in February. "NATO should pursue these goals as well," Hegseth told NATO members in Brussels in February. "NATO is a great alliance, the most successful defense alliance in history, but to endure for the future, our partners must do far more for Europe's defense." "We must make NATO great again," he said. As of 2023, the U.S. spent 3.3% of its GDP on defense spending, amounting to $880 billion, according to the nonpartisan Washington, D.C.-based Peterson Institute for International Economics. More than 50% of NATO funding comes from the U.S., while other allies, like the United Kingdom, France and Germany, have contributed between 4% and 8% to NATO funding in recent years. Hegseth urged European allies to bolster defense spending from 2% to 5% of gross domestic product, as Trump has long advocated. NATO comprises more than 30 countries and was originally formed in 1949 to halt the spread of the Soviet Union.
