United States President-elect Donald Trump’s threats against Greenland, Canada and Panama create destabilizing uncertainty about the short-term intent of the U.S. and the long-term nature of its approach to international relationships. NATO’s leadership will have to work adroitly to avoid a crisis.
Warning adversaries about what would befall them if they threatened any of the 32 NATO members through military action is a steadfast NATO function. Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty says “an armed attack against one (member of the alliance)…will be considered an attack against them all.”
In the event of such an attack, the other NATO members will take “such action as it deems necessary, including the use of armed force, to restore and maintain the security of the North Atlantic area.”
