In an episode of the “Ninth” program on “Sky News Arabia,” he discussed the former American diplomat Jonathan SmithAnd Russian academic Alexander Provodin, the strategy proposed by Trump to strengthen his position US in NATO And re-arranging the alliance’s priorities, including pressure Washington On NATO countries to increase military spending.
Trump calls for increased NATO spending: America cannot bear the burden of defense alone
Trump noted in previous statements that the United States bears the burden of defending its NATO allies while many European countries contribute little to the joint defense budget.
In this context, Smith said that Trump believes that the alliance needs a real re-evaluation of defense contributions, especially at a time when threats from Russia are increasing.
Smith explained that Trump may put pressure on European alliance countries to increase defense spending or may ease the United States’ commitment if member states do not adhere to their pledges.
Ukraine crisis: Trump prefers diplomatic solutions to military escalation
Regarding the Ukraine crisis, Provodin added that Trump would prefer a diplomatic solution rather than military escalation. He pointed out that Trump had stated in his election campaign that he would work to end the conflict in Ukraine through negotiation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which may bring to mind his role in easing tensions with North Korea during his presidency.
Provodin added that Trump would be keen to limit the escalation in Ukraine, in light of fears that the war would expand to other regions in Europe.
Russian threats: Will they affect NATO unity?
In addition to the Ukrainian crisis, the two guests discussed the Russian position in this equation, with Smith indicating that Russia may try to exploit differences within NATO to strengthen its geopolitical position.
He said that escalating tensions in Ukraine may be part of a Russian strategy to provoke divisions within the alliance, which could weaken the West’s position in general.
For his part, Provodin added that Moscow may view the pressure exerted by Trump on NATO as an opportunity to expand its influence in other regions such as the Black Sea and the Middle East.
Military options: How will NATO deal with the Russian escalation?
Despite the pressure NATO may face from Trump to ramp up military spending, Smith stressed that the alliance will be forced to respond to any increasing Russian threats.
He said: “NATO will need to expand its military movements in Eastern Europe and protect the Baltic states from any potential threats.”
He added that NATO may increase its military presence in Ukraine, whether by providing more military support or by strengthening its forces near the Russian border.
America under Trump’s leadership: diplomatic or military options?
“Trump will avoid direct escalation on the ground as much as possible, but he may support the use of other tools such as economic sanctions and cyberattacks,” Smith said.
He added that Trump may see sanctions as an effective tool to deter Moscow from military escalation, which may enhance Washington’s ability to deal with Russia without being drawn into an all-out war.
NATO in the face of escalation: a new strategy for protecting Western interests
At the conclusion of the discussion, Provodin noted that NATO may enter a new phase of development under Trump’s leadership, as it will have to adjust its strategy to keep pace with changes in American policy.
“We may see a shift in how we deal with threats, whether through strengthening military defenses or through strengthening relationships with other countries outside the alliance to form larger alliances,” he said.
He added that NATO would remain ready to deal with any threats coming from the east, but it would need close coordination with the United States to ensure the success of any strategy.
