Suggestions of leaving NATO are 'harmful', says Estonian FM

Minister of Foreign Affairs Margus Tsahkna (Eesti 200) said NATO benefits both Europe and the U.S. after President Donald Trump's comments that he is considering pulling out of the transatlantic military alliance.
"I would say [it's] beyond reconsideration," Trump told the UK's Telegraph newspaper, when asked if he would think twice about the U.S.'s membership of the alliance after the Middle East conflict is over.
"I was never swayed by NATO. I always knew they were a paper tiger, and Putin knows that too, by the way," Trump added.
The president suggested that U.S. military action in Iran could end in "two to three weeks."
Tsahkna said NATO is beneficial for both Europe and the United States as it has ensured security on both sides of the Atlantic for nearly 80 years.
"All Allies would lose from any weakening of NATO," he said in a statement.
"Suggestions of withdrawing from NATO or even considering such a step are harmful, even if they are not acted upon," Tsahkna added.
The foreign minister reiterated that the only time the collective defense clause known as Article 5 has been invoked was by the USA following 9/11.
"NATO Allies have stood alongside the United States in operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and elsewhere," he said.
Tsahkna said 11 Estonian soldiers were killed in Iraq and Afghanistan and over 100 were wounded.
"Estonia highly values the contribution of the United States to transatlantic security and has always been ready to engage in open discussions with its Allies on our shared security," he said.
Allies now allocate billions more to defense than in previous decades after all members' spending rose above 2 percent of GDP last year, the minister said, adding that this shows "Allies take defence seriously."
The BBC reported last year, than in monetary terms, the U.S. is by far the biggest spender on defence, spending about $980bn (£720bn) last year, which was 62 percent of the NATO total.
It also had GDP greater than all the rest of the members of NATO put together in 2025, the outlet said.
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Editor: Helen Wright








