Security Expert Warns: 'The Americans Are on Their Way Out' - Trump’s NATO shifts spark fears of weakened European security against Russia
Uncertainty surrounds U.S. foreign policy under former President Donald Trump, with mixed signals over its stance on NATO and Russia. Recent moves have raised questions about Washington's commitment to European security. Political scientist Christian Mölling, a senior advisor at the Brussels-based European Policy Centre, has criticised the approach as dangerously naive.
The absence of key figures like Secretary of State Marco Rubio from a NATO meeting has only deepened these concerns.
Mölling’s warnings come after the U.S. proposed a 28-point plan that included the possibility of NATO dropping Ukraine’s membership ambitions. Drafted without input from European allies, the plan positioned Washington more as a mediator than a firm supporter of Kyiv. Critics argue this weakens NATO’s unity and emboldens Russia.
Russia has shown no sign of softening its war aims, believing it is on course to win. Mölling stresses that the West must either ramp up pressure or increase weapons deliveries to shift the balance. He also dismisses Trump’s attempts to tie economic issues to security concerns, calling them ineffective against Moscow.
Negotiations between the U.S. and Russia have yielded no progress, according to Mölling. He argues that Washington’s current strategy risks leaving Europe more vulnerable while failing to deter Russian aggression.
The U.S. approach has left allies questioning its reliability in countering Russian threats. Without stronger coordination with Europe, analysts fear NATO’s position could weaken further. Mölling’s critique highlights the need for a clearer, more decisive strategy to address the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
