http://www.wsj.com/articles/in-trump-nato-faces-a-challenge-1478690705In Trump, NATO Faces a ChallengeDuring the campaign, the president-elect criticized the alliance for failing to spend enough on defense
By JULIAN E. BARNES
Updated Nov. 9, 2016 10:20 a.m. ET
BRUSSELS—The North Atlantic Treaty Organization faces one of the biggest challenges since the end of the Cold War with the election of Donald Trump, a persistent critic of the alliance.
The president-elect has questioned whether the U.S. should be committed to the defense of countries that fail to spend enough on their militaries. He has suggested a softer stance against Russia and urged the 28 NATO allies to focus more on fighting terrorism.
On Wednesday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg congratulated Mr. Trump on his election victory but delivered a stern reminder of America’s obligations to its allies.
“NATO’s security guarantee is a treaty commitment,” said Mr. Stoltenberg, who criticized Mr. Trump’s comments during the campaign. “All allies have made a solemn commitment to defend each other. This is something absolutely unconditioned.”
Mr. Stoltenberg said the only time this collective defense provision of the Washington Treaty, NATO’s founding document, has been invoked is after the Sept. 11 terror attacks on America.
He added that NATO remains in Afghanistan working on the counterterrorism mission there.
Since the 2014 annexation of Crimea by Russia, the U.S. and NATO have taken an increasingly hard line against Russia and its president, Vladimir Putin.
But such a stance is unlikely to sit well with Mr. Trump. During the campaign, he has signaled his admiration of Mr. Putin and said the U.S. and Russia should do more to fight terrorism together, echoing Moscow’s position.
If Mr. Trump tries to reorient the alliance’s stance on Russia, NATO might be forced to rethink its plan to deploy 4,000 troops, including American soldiers, to the Baltic States and Poland next year. Mr. Trump could also reconsider plans by the Obama administration to send a heavy infantry brigade to Eastern Europe early next year.
Anders Fogh Rasmussen, a former NATO secretary-general, said the alliance should hold its summit as early next year as possible and send a clear signal to Russia that the alliance security guarantee remains in place.
The last two American presidents have entered office seeking to reset ties with Moscow but with tensions over Syria and Ukraine, relations between Russia and the West are at a low point, Mr. Rasmussen noted.
Mr. Rasmussen said despite Mr. Trump’s desire to improve relations with Russia, the new president elect will “soon realize the best approach with Russia is a firm hand.”
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