Trump, NATO and fight against militancy
- By Sajjad Malik
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E-mail China.org.cn, May 27, 2017
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U.S. President Donald Trump (R) is welcomed by European Council President Donald Tusk upon his arrival at the EU headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua] |
Expectations were obviously high about Mr. Trump reiterating an American commitment to collective security, as he arrived at NATO's newly-built headquarters following a highly symbolic tour of Saudi Arabia, Israel and a meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, places linked with the three Abrahamic religions.
There was a tinge of tension as well due to Manchester suicide bombing taking at least 22 innocent people. It was evident Mr. Trump would talk about the monstrous attack and use it as an occasion to deliver a message of unity to all NATO members. He did this, condemning the incident and again calling the militants "losers".
However, what followed was a session in shock therapy for the majority of the leaders representing the 28-member body. In his trademark brash style, Mr. Trump ripped through the failure of NATO countries to keep up their financial commitments. He scolded them directly, without mincing words, as some of leaders were seen shifting restlessly, clearly feeling disturbed.
He reminded them that 23 countries were behind in their dues payments. He dug deeper, pointedly that defense spending representing two percent of GDP was simply not enough. It looked like a stern-faced headmaster chiding lazy students for not paying their tuition fees, with a hidden warning they might be expelled.
After the admonishment regarding non-payment, Mr. Trump indirectly criticized those European nations, led by Germany, that had let thousands and thousands of foreigners enter into various countries without truly knowing their identity or background. He urged them to get tough and be vigilant.
It was the first direct attack against the policy of welcoming migrants from war-torn Muslim countries – a reminiscent of his campaign, when Mr. Trump had threatened to ban their entry into America.
As if this was not enough, he refused to give any commitment on collective defense under Article 5 of the NATO Pact. Though, he vaguely talked about the threat posed by Russia on eastern and southern borders of the bloc, it was not what various leaders had gathered to hear.
On the crucial issue of fighting terrorism, the American president was more direct and tackling the evil head-on and "stopping it in its tracks". It proved an awkward moment having just lambasted them on the issue of money.
It would hardly help the cause of achieving a strong showing against the militants' menace. A disgruntled NATO with internal rifts is hardly qualified to defeat a formidable, cohesive group like ISIS.
In pure military terms, NATO is not an alliance in fighting trim to fight obscure ideologies and unseen enemies. It is a hardcore military outfit formed to engage in regular warfare. For the majority of its European members – both from the Western and Eastern blocks – the alliance means meeting the Russian threat.
The first NATO contact with militants, in Afghanistan, was a failure. After fighting for more than a decade, the alliance failed to achieve the objective of eliminating either the Taliban or al-Qaeda.
However, it did help create an Afghan security force to which it handed over security responsibility. The Afghan forces are valiantly fighting; yet, can they win when NATO failed? It has resulted in a resurgence of the Taliban who are threatening to reverse the gains of past years.
Mr. Trump's ideas on eliminating militants suggest a role for NATO against ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Frankly, though, this would probably lapse into a quagmire. Already several nations are involved in Syria without any sign of success. It shows that fighting militancy by conventional military means is simply not enough. You are up against a mindset which cannot be defeated on the battlefield.
The Brussel summit, if it can be called that, has highlighted tension between Trump's America and rest of the NATO. It comes at a critical juncture when a confident-looking Russia and rising threat of ISIS demand more unity. The Trump speech at NATO headquarters shows that serious reforms are needed to carry on the concept of collective security.
Sajjad Malik is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SajjadMalik.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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