Trump Proposes NATO Pay-to-Play Model After Allies Refuse Iran Support

President Donald Trump is weighing a radical restructuring of NATO following what he described as a failed test of loyalty by European allies. During a summit in Miami Beach on March 27, Trump questioned the U.S. commitment to the alliance after member nations refused to provide military assistance, including mine sweepers and warships, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz during a U.S.-Israeli offensive against Iran.

Trump is considering a pay-to-play model that would remove military support guarantees, Article 5 mutual defense protections, and strategic voting rights from nations failing to spend 5% of their GDP on defense. As part of this strategy, the president is considering relocating 35,000 American troops from Germany to Hungary to punish Berlin for spending only 2% of its GDP in 2025.

European leaders have largely resisted direct involvement in the Iran conflict. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and French President Emmanuel Macron stated the conflict was not their war, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer restricted U.S. use of the Diego Garcia base to defensive purposes. Spain also blocked U.S. forces from using its military bases. In contrast, Macron dispatched a carrier to the Mediterranean to ensure navigation freedom.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has urged member nations to present plans to meet the 5% spending target at an upcoming summit in Ankara, Türkiye, to prevent the United States from abandoning the alliance.