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NATO’s core commitment to collective defense may not hold in practice, warned former U.S. diplomat Cameron Munter during a public debate at Anglo-American University this week. “Article 5 is not actually legally enforceable. If I lived in Estonia and the Russians invaded, I would be seriously concerned that the Americans would not come,” Munter said.
According to iDnes.cz, Munter, who served as U.S. ambassador to Serbia and Pakistan under both Republican and Democratic administrations, said NATO remains an alliance of ideals rather than enforceable commitments. Activation of Article 5—NATO’s clause that requires collective defense in the event of an attack—must be approved unanimously by the NATO Council, which could prove problematic in a real crisis, he said.
Munter also expressed concern about the weakening of U.S. leadership within the alliance. Referring to the Trump administration’s rollback of international programs, including the dismantling of USAID, he warned that if the U.S. stops funding NATO initiatives, European allies may struggle to fill the gap. “There are no capacities in Europe that could replace it,” he said.
Roman Joch, director of the Civic Institute and co-speaker at the event, agreed with Munter on the need for greater investment in European defense but called U.S. demands for five percent of GDP “unrealistic.” He instead advocated for European nations to match the U.S.’s own defense spending level of 3.4 percent of GDP.
Both speakers criticized the unpredictability of U.S. foreign policy, particularly under President Donald Trump. Munter noted that Trump’s erratic signals to both allies and adversaries—such as his failed outreach to Russian President Vladimir Putin—raise doubts about America’s strategic coherence.
“If you kick the Europeans in the teeth too much, they might turn to someone who is less democratic but more predictable,” Munter said, pointing to China as a possible alternative influence.
Joch echoed those concerns, recalling earlier warnings during the George W. Bush era that U.S. patience with subsidizing European security would run out. He also criticized Trump’s erratic approach to trade policy, describing it as devoid of consistent tactics.
Munter concluded with a stark assessment of the political deadlock in Washington. “The Republicans have no guts, and the Democrats have no plan,” he said.
