Donald Trump represents a greater threat to NATO than Vladimir Putin, stated General Richard Shirreff, one of the former commanders of the alliance, in a vehement attack on Washington’s foreign policy.
The US President has raised concerns after a series of aggressive actions this year, including the capture of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela, threats to invade Greenland, and the controversial claim that European troops in Afghanistan „were not on the front line.”
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General Richard Shirreff, the former Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO forces, stated that Trump's threat of military intervention in Greenland "was absolutely not a bluff," even after the US President pledged not to use force to conquer the island, which is a territory of Denmark, a NATO member.
"We have to take him seriously. We have to assume that, with Trump, just like with Putin, the worst will happen. Trump is a greater threat to NATO, if you want to make the comparison. Trump is the one who wins," he said, to The Independent.
Shirreff, who now serves as the President of the International Advisory Council for security and risk at Healix, stated that Trump has "destroyed the international order" in the first year of his second term.
"He is also on the verge of destroying the only alliance that has guaranteed transatlantic security for 77 years," he added.
Trump has attacked the only alliance that guarantees our security
The former British army officer stated that Trump has handed Putin two of his most cherished foreign policy objectives "on a plate."
"He has detached America from European security and, in practice, keeps NATO afloat because of his threat," the general said.
Shirreff also stated that while Putin represents an "existential threat" to Europe, his invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 unified NATO and "brought the international order closer."
Meanwhile, Trump has turned the rules-based global system "into a lost cause", he added. "Clearly, Putin has made massive threats, but Trump has attacked the only alliance that guarantees our security."
In the US, Trump has been ridiculed for what critics call a "TACO" approach to politics - meaning Trump always changes his mind. Recently, he threatened military intervention in both Greenland and Iran before seeming to back down and seek diplomatic solutions.
But General Shirreff said that the threats themselves, especially towards Greenland, are enough to cause serious damage to Washington's alliances within NATO.
"The leading nation of the alliance threatened the territorial integrity of another member of an alliance. How can you move forward and rebuild trust? No one will trust Trump anymore, and we still have three years with him."
In response to the instability, General Shirreff advised NATO to "Europeanize" and seek strategic and military independence from the US, especially for the remainder of Trump's term.
What other experts say
Other experts disagreed with General Shirreff's conclusion on which leader poses a greater threat to NATO.
Jon B Alterman, President of the Global Security and Geostrategy Department at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, agreed that Putin's war had a "unifying effect" on NATO, but argued that Trump was more "open to persuasion" from NATO allies.
He said that the US President's foreign policy and attacks on NATO reflect the concerns of many Americans about the US role abroad. Earlier this month, Trump claimed he "saved NATO" in a post on Truth Social.
"This is an old American grievance," Alterman said to The Independent. "European states are now looking for alternative arrangements, and these conversations were absolutely not happening a year ago. The international order needs to rethink its response; it has been a very one-sided relationship for some."
Gabriel A. Giménez Roche, Associate Professor of Economics and Finance at Neoma Business School, stated that Trump's lack of popularity in polls could serve as a check on his unrestrained global ambitions.
"Trump's confrontational position towards Europe does not enjoy strong support among the American electorate," he said. "Polls consistently show skepticism towards antagonizing allies, annexation rhetoric, and escalating trade conflicts - a sentiment that could have electoral consequences."
But Putin could benefit from this uncertainty. "If neither European firms nor American voters benefit, the response is worrisome. The main beneficiary seems to be Vladimir Putin, whose strategic interests are served by a distracted America, a divided transatlantic relationship, and a Europe forced to reassess its dependence on Washington."
A White House spokesperson told The Independent: "President Trump has done more for NATO than anyone else. America's contributions to NATO surpass those of other countries, and his success in fulfilling the promise of 5% spending from NATO allies helps Europe take greater responsibility for its own defense. The United States is the only NATO partner that can protect Greenland, and the President is advancing NATO's interests in this regard."