NATO’s ability to defend Europe relies heavily on the United States, while shifting US policy and upcoming elections in France and Germany could complicate alliance commitments. The article says France votes next year and Germany holds its federal election in 2029.
NATO commander Alexus Grynkewich said the alliance has a plan to block and blunt an attack in Europe, and, if needed, break an enemy’s forces. He said NATO’s aerial capabilities could inflict heavy damage on Russian military facilities, but those capabilities are heavily dependent on the United States.
US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker said US foreign policy had not changed and he did not expect the midterm elections to change it, reaffirming the commitment to NATO’s treaty, including Article 5. The article describes concern among allies over mixed signals from Washington, including a US withdrawal of combat units from Baltic states followed by announcements that two armoured units would spend the winter in Lithuania and US tanks would return to eastern Estonia.
French presidential candidates Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon are sceptical of NATO, while Germany’s AfD leads opinion polls ahead of the 2029 federal election and has officials sympathetic to Russian interests. The article says European defence industry growth may address some US capability gaps later in the decade, while Poland remains united about the threat from Russia.
