Brussels – Washington: Europe and the Arabs

US President Donald Trump is considering proposals to restructure NATO, a move that could open the door to unprecedented tensions with European allies amid escalating disagreements over defense burdens and how to handle crises in the Middle East.

Trump is expected to propose a new model within the alliance based on the principle of "pay-for-participation," whereby countries that do not adhere to a specific defense spending target would be barred from participating in strategic decisions.

According to this vision, countries that fail to reach a spending target of 5 percent of their GDP could be excluded from voting on key issues, including decisions related to war. According to a report by the Brussels-based European news network Euronews, this move comes as part of a series of plans being considered by the US president after NATO allies rejected his request to send warships to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This rejection also prompted him to consider other options, including the potential withdrawal of US troops from Germany.

Defense Spending Standards
NATO countries had previously committed to spending at least 2 percent of their GDP on defense, following pressure from Trump in 2018 to double military funding.

In contrast, the new proposal raises the ceiling to 5 percent, a target that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described as one that will require leaders to develop clear plans to achieve at a summit in Turkey later this year. According to a US administration source who spoke to The Telegraph, "The frustration with the European position was very clear," adding that any country that does not meet the 5 percent target "should not be allowed to vote on future NATO spending."
Another US source also stressed the need for a broader discussion about the nature of the threats and the role of the European Union. The alliance, deeming the positions of countries like Spain and the United Kingdom "unacceptable."

French marines during the "Orion 2026" exercises in the port of Saint-Nazaire, western France, Thursday, February 19, 2026.
French marines during the "Orion 2026" exercises in the port of Saint-Nazaire, western France, Thursday, February 19, 2026. Michel Euler/AP
A new confrontation between Trump and the Europeans?

These proposals would exclude countries that fail to meet their spending targets from pivotal decisions, including expansion, joint missions, and even the activation of Article 5 on collective defense, which would allow member states to go to war.

For example, Britain currently meets the 2 percent target, but spends less on defense than 13 other NATO members.

NATO's annual report, released on Thursday, showed that Britain spent 2.33 percent of its GDP on defense last year, slightly ahead of... Romania, Bulgaria, and North Macedonia.

However, implementing these amendments requires consensus among all NATO members, which seems unlikely given the expected rejection from several countries. This foreshadows a new confrontation between Trump and his European partners.

Escalating Political Tensions
These proposals coincide with a military and political escalation in the Middle East, where Trump decided to send thousands of additional American troops to the region in anticipation of a possible ground invasion. This followed NATO countries' refusal to participate in securing the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway experiencing sharp fluctuations in oil prices due to the ongoing conflict between Iran on one side, and the United States and Israel on the other.

Trump had already escalated his rhetoric against European leaders, sharply criticizing them for refusing to participate in reopening the strait. Last week, he said they "complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but they refuse a simple military exercise that is the only reason behind the high oil prices."

Trump continues to insult European leaders, particularly British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, whom he described as "no Winston Churchill," as reported. A satirical video depicted him appearing fearful of a phone call from Trump.

Trump expressed "great disappointment" with Starmer's stance on the conflict with Iran, accusing him of being slow to change his position and later allowing strikes to be launched from British bases.