Czech president Petr Pavel has warned that Donald Trump’s recent comments questioning Nato have done more damage to the alliance’s credibility than Russian president Vladimir Putin has achieved in years.
Pavel, who is a retired Nato general and former chair of the Nato military committee, said the criticism had gone further than a political disagreement. In his view, the effect on Nato’s standing has been significant.
Concerns over Nato’s role
Pavel also argued that it is unfair to expect a defensive alliance to automatically intervene in wars that are fought outside its territory. His comments come amid debate over Nato’s responsibilities and the limits of collective defence.
He specifically said Trump’s criticism of Nato in connection with the Iran war was, “to put it mildly, unfair.”
The remarks underline continuing tensions around the alliance’s purpose and credibility, especially as Nato faces scrutiny from political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic.
