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Order Josh Hammer’s new book, Israel and Civilization: The Fate of the Jewish Nation and the Destiny of the West: HERE.
One month into Operation Epic Fury against the Islamic Republic of Iran, a long-overdue conversation has finally broken into the open: What, exactly, is the enduring rationale for NATO? For decades, this question has been treated in Washington foreign policy circles as heretical. But it isn’t. And to their credit, President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are now saying so plainly.
As Trump recently put it, “They haven’t been friends when we needed them. We’ve never asked them for much. … It’s a one-way street.” Rubio has been similarly blunt: “If NATO is just about us defending Europe if they’re attacked but then denying us basing rights when we need them, that’s not a very good arrangement. … So all that’s going to have to be reexamined.”
They’re spot-on.
At best, America’s European “allies” have spent decades free-riding on the U.S. security umbrella. Despite repeated commitments to meet baseline defense spending targets, many NATO members still under-invest in their militaries and outsource their national defense to American taxpayers. The imbalance is staggering: The United States accounts for the overwhelming majority of NATO’s military capabilities, logistics and strategic lift. Overall, American taxpayers contribute about 60% of total spending on NATO defense.
At worst, some of these same European allies actively undermine U.S. operations at critical moments. Major Western European countries such as Spain and France have restricted or complicated U.S. use of their airspace during Operation Epic Fury. That is farcical. A so-called alliance in which members obstruct one another’s ability to wage war is not actually an alliance — it is a liability.
This raises the core question: Why, exactly, does NATO exist in the year 2026?
Let’s recall its origins. NATO was founded in 1949 with a clear and urgent mission: to contain and, if necessary, defeat the Soviet Union. That mission was compelling — indeed, existential. Western Europe lay devastated after World War II, and the Soviet threat was real, immediate and hegemonic.
But that world quite literally no longer exists.
The Soviet Union collapsed three and a half decades ago. The Berlin Wall fell the year I was born. The Cold War is now a relic of history. By any reasonable metric, NATO achieved its raison d’etre by the early 1990s. But instead of declaring victory and recalibrating, the alliance drifted. It expanded ever further into Eastern Europe and shifted its ostensible mission into … well, something.
Simply put, NATO is today an organization in search of a purpose.
Is NATO a collective defense pact against the geopolitical successor to the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation? If so, why do so many European NATO members fail to take that threat seriously enough to invest in their own national defense? Is NATO now instead a vehicle for global counterterrorism? If so, why have its members sat on the sidelines and refused to join the United States as it goes to battle against the world’s No. 1 state sponsor of jihad? Or is NATO nowadays just a political club for liberal democracies? If so, what does that have to do with a hardheaded conception of the U.S. national interest?
NATO has become a catch-all institution, long on triumphalist platitudes but short on the strategic realities on which its existence was predicated.
Meanwhile, the global order is shifting. The initial post-Cold War era of enthusiastic multilateralism has slowly given way to a more interest-driven, nationalist paradigm. Nation-states are rediscovering the primacy of sovereignty, borders and self-interest. In such a world, the idea that the United States should blindly remain bound to a 20th-century transnational alliance structure is untenable.
This certainly does not mean that America should retreat into isolationism. But it does mean that our alliances must be rethought, recalibrated and — where necessary — replaced.
The geopolitical future lies not in outmoded multilateral boondoggles but in agile, strategic bilateral and trilateral partnerships. These smaller, more focused arrangements allow for clearer expectations, greater accountability and more direct alignment of national interests. They avoid the bureaucratic inertia and free-riding that plague massive superstructures like NATO.
The highly effective binational U.S.-Israel assault on Iran over the past month illustrates what a dynamic 21st-century bilateral alliance can do. The contrast with the sclerotic NATO member states of Western Europe is stark.
For too long, American policymakers have treated NATO as an article of faith. But alliances are not sacred. They must be consistently reevaluated to determine whether they still serve their intended purpose and advance our national interest.
If NATO cannot meet that test — if it continues to function as a lopsided arrangement in which the United States pays, protects and sacrifices while others equivocate and obstruct — then it is not only reasonable but necessary to question its future and America’s role in that future.
Operation Epic Fury has exposed these contradictions in stark relief. Something clearly must change. The ball is in NATO’s court. Because the status quo is no longer defensible — and deep down, everyone knows it.
Technically I agree with Josh Hammer. NATO is a self absorbed collection of paper tigers who think the U.S. will always be there to bail their butts out if the going gets tough, but don’t seem to care if we ask for their help i.e. the Straits of Hormuz.
The problem for Europe is there won’t always be an administration as tough as Trumps. There will come a time, maybe as soon as the Next Presidential election, when we revert back to the days of Obama/Biden style government that views Islam favorably. And that is when the sh*t will hit the fan in this country. Possibly, the civil war that is currently under way, but in stealth mode.
NATO is as useless as the U.N. Trumpian MAGA government must win the next two election cycles.
in my humble opinion, Europe is kaput
I agree that NATO has become a useless burden to us, but I think we are also largely responsible for making it so. NATO expanded well beyond the North Atlantic and violated the “not one inch” promises made to Gorbachev by James Baker. Putin repeated cites this betrayal and I think Putin is right.
NATO was formed in response to the threat posed by our WW 2 ally, the Soviet Union. Putin has made overtures about joining NATO and was refused out of hand. We should at least have explored the possibility further. Russia’s inclusion would have ended NATO’s purpose, thus ending NATO. We have made Japan, who attacked us at Pearl Harbor, our partner, why not Russia?
Our NATO allies also know that there is no American swell of support for war against Iran, and legal questions about the extent of presidential authority to declare war without congressional approval. Americans were not consulted. NATO allies were not consulted. The next U.S. regime will likely return to business as usual, so why provoke trouble?
It is also interesting that Turkey is likely the next country on the list of Israeli aggression. Turkey is a NATO member. If Israel attacks Turkey, the U.S. must necessarily consider the attack as one upon itself under NATO and be bound to defend Turkey AGAINST Israel. Ending NATO would remove that obstacle, but do these formalities even matter?
NATO’s Purpose in 2026? Keeping US bases in Europe and whining about it.
What Exactly is NATO’s Purpose in 2026?
To use their military hardware to protect innocent civilians and to create boundaries to safeguard areas against intrusion from outsiders.
Only in theory, however,,,
That was the initial concept when it was formed – now, unfortunately, they’ve become just an arm of left-wing globalism and are working diligently to ensure that America (or rather, President Trump) doesn’t interfere with that agenda.
NATO’s purpose is to get a foolish and indulgent America to pay for Europe’s defense so Brussels can pass outlandish regulations, Europeans can retire early after enjoying short work weeks and long vacations, Europeans can have subsidized health care while charging visitors outrageous prices, and bureaucrats can invite millions of Jihadis in to subvert their culture after abandoning Christianity.
In 1953, President Eisenhower, former Commander in Chief of all Allied Armies in Europe, said that if US troops were still in Europe after ten years, he would consider NATO a failure. We were only supposed to have troops in Europe long enough for them to build their own defensive force againt the Soviet Union’s Warsaw Pact. Europe was ahead of Russia in every way and squandered the opportunity to create their own defensed. Instead they bought votes with social programs with the money that should have gone to defense. Now, even without defensed spending, they can’t afford their social programs and, with no new freebies, the natives are getting restless. Trump doesn’t like ‘losers’ and neither do I. Time to ‘cut the apron strings’ and tell Europe to put on some ‘big boy pants’.
Funny you mentioned Eisenhower. Just the other day, I read the full text of his many speeches and his writings on NATO. You are correct. He did think it would and should be temporary.
I absolutely love it when someone remembers one of the greatest presidents America ever had until Trump came along.
Ike’s famous speech about “The Military Industrial Complex” should be, by all accounts, shown in its entirety to all American high school students as a requirement for graduation. But alas, unedited American history is a very rare thing in public schools.
Until we perform an abortion on government interferences in education, and forced agendas to teach narratives instead of realities, each generation that graduates will be less and less informed of our glorious, patriotic past, and unfortunately only “educated” in “diversity is our strength”!!
Europe didn’t stand up before WWII or against USSR-USA was NATO and now they have surrendered to Islam. Not a good record.
The fall of Constantinople marked the tipping point for Europe’s loss. Islam’s war on civilization stretches back to the 7th Century, when it was invented to sustain the Arab conquest of the Mediterranean.
NATO is worse than useless. After the fall of the USSR, it should have disbanded. Instead, as a new raison d’etre, it decided to expand into countries that had no business joining such as Turkey. and eventually, contrary to promises, threatening Russia by expanding to its borders.
We’ve paid back France many times over for their help when WE needed THEM – 1776! As far as the REST of Europe? What exactly have they done for us? Did WE get anything to assist the various Natural Disasters? Nope! So what good are “OUR FRIENDS”? Not much!
We should definitely REMOVE Ourselves from the UN and MOST DEFINITELY remove the UN from Our Nation! And then NATO! And Our Bases in Europe – what good are they now? Oh, they provide immense FINANCIAL benefits for the Nations where they are located! I guess that’s a good thing! This has shown us that the NATO Nations are compromised- they have been CONQUERED by their islamist invaders!
We’ve saved them from Communism and Nazis when they invaded. We shouldn’t save them again from the muslims they INVITED!
Like everything else in this universe NATO also had its own expiration date. Basically NATO outlived its usefulness. Time to put it to rest.
Yes NATO needs to be gone. It’s costing American tax payors too much money for nothing.
Shut Up Josh Hammer…
You’re a terrible shill for Israel…
Is this all you got? Questioning NATO?
When Iran is making Trump and Bibi look like idiots on the world stage…
The narrative keeps changing… the deadlines keep changing…
Bibi & Trump have screwed up the world’s economy… and it’ll catch up soon…
sumsrent:
You’re a limp wrist wimp and it shows. You need to zip your fly, wipe the snot from your nose and the drool from your mouth and stop playing your doodle every time you get excited. Go get your jollies somewhere else. This isn’t the place for it.
Trump lifted the sanctions off Russia and Iran… which means… Iran will make somewhere like 400 billion a year off the Hormuz…
Nothing like helping Iran… who we’re at war with… make more money than ever…
All the while this war is costing America over a billion every single day…
And for what?
Nuclear enrichment? Trump said he “obliterated” their nuclear program back in July…
Over protesters getting killed? Trump said America and Israel provided the weapons to rise up against Iran…
Ugh… you’re stupid… just like Josh Hammer
Thank God you weren’t around during WWII.
N.Africa’s taking too long.
D-Day is taking too long.
Why are we in the Hurtgen Forest?
A pile of anti-american bitchery nestled in a bigger pile of the most bizarre Christian stupidity ever to make an appearance in print.
A terrible shill for Israel? Is that all you got? I always knew you hated Jews. Go suck on some Iranian shlong.
Keep in mind that Hammer writes for at least 4 major publications. He has an audience. He is a success. WTF do you have besides your weenie hanging out of your momma’s undies.
Keep wracking up those downvotes, loseria.
It must really hurt to be you. So sorry.
You euroTRASH have surrendered to the mudSLIME INVADERS YOU FVCKIN’ FOOLS!!!!!!!!!!! YOUR CULTURE, SOCIETY WILL BE ERASED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! leftard IMBECILES!!!!!!!!!!!!!
European NATO should repurpose themselves to the remigration of Muslims. Make it a strong military maneuver that removes all but those who have shown absolute adherence to the customs and traditions of their adopted country.
Europe should bring back the death penalty for rape. That will produce significant self-deportations.
They’re calling Trump… “The Island Boy!”
Epic Fury = Epstein Fury
“Name-calling”???
Dude, you can’t justify your infection from liberalism.
Literally every patriotic nationalist in every country is cheering on Trump and Bibi…and hoping they’ll continue with blasting Islamism to end the world of terrorism.
Good grief; can’t you at least be happy that these two brilliant leaders are doing the most good for this world than has been done in more than 50 years??
Or is logic, strength, intelligence, and common sense too far out of your realm of focus?
Those two minds are NOT brilliant…
Iran is controlling this war… which is why Trump has had 6 different ultimatums… now it’s two weeks after he said he was going to destroy an entire civilization…
Which didn’t happen again…
Meanwhile… the world’s economy is getting worse… slowly by day…
Over 1 billion barrels of crude a day have dropped off the market… <<< That'll catch up soon. And it'll take years to recover…
I hope you're planning ahead…
Of course… you're listening to the MSM… and should be watching the Alternative media…
PS… it was America that has screwed with Iran for the past 70+ years… did you know that?
Did you know? The protesters that were killed back in January were fed weapons by America and Israel…
The lies y'all fall for… ugh…
Finally, Bibi and Trump broke you. You are the perfect example of the “very elect” of some god. I certainly hope you stay illiterate and stupid for a long time.
Who’s calling Trump Island Boy? Your Iranian and Leftist friends.? Did you get that from Google AI?
The way Europe is deteriorating it will be The North Atlantic Organization of the Islamic Caliphate.
Mama hit it right. Turn the tables on the European Jihad with NATO forces. That will give it purpose. It is currently useless, as is the UN, the UNTIED NATIONS.