Born, Stefanini: “Spain suspension a bluff but Trump can create problems for the Alliance”

“In any case, any decision would require unanimity”, continues the ambassador, according to whom the US “alone” cannot “suspend or take measures” that limit the rights of a member country. “It’s the same problem the European Union finds itself in when it has to make unanimous decisions against a country. All that is needed is for that country to block it”, explains Stefanini, specifying that “there are no majority votes in NATO, whether qualified or otherwise”.

According to the ambassador, the situation regarding the American president’s threats against NATO is different. As the leaked Pentagon document itself demonstrates, “there is a quest on Trump’s part to take action against countries that, in his opinion, did not support the United States in the war on Iran. And clearly, given that he has taken a very clear position on this, Spain is at the forefront,” Stefanini declares.

For the ambassador, what must be “taken seriously” is Trump’s intention to “create problems” for NATO and “the United States can certainly do this”. For example, by questioning their commitment in the event a state is attacked, Stefanini adds, citing the recent statement by the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, according to which the American commitment to defend NATO in the event of an attack by Russia is already in doubt.

“This is already enormous damage – he says – Because for a defensive alliance the basis of everything is deterrence. The moment there is a doubt about the fact that the main ally is not ready to commit, this credibility of NATO is already damaged”. In short, Stefanini continues, there are “many” things that Trump can do, such as withdrawing troops from some countries to place them elsewhere or closing bases in one country instead of another, while they are “empty threats” and a “bluff” when he talks about leaving NATO because he would need a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate, “which he would never have”.

In this context, “Italy risks the consequences of a weakening of NATO”, but “it risks less than other countries because it is not in Russia’s sights like, for example, the Baltic States”, claims Stefanini, highlighting how the bases in Italy are also “very useful” to the United States also in light of their possible greater involvement in the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Africa. “It would be necessary to be in Trump’s head for decisions of this kind, but it is difficult to imagine that today Trump would give up logistically imported bases”, he concludes, observing that “Trump’s resentment towards Meloni does not concern NATO, but Leo XIV”.