US President Donald Trump said he could pull the US out of NATO. Should this be taken seriously? Trump has threatened this before, but that does not mean it will actually happen.
Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio claim that NATO did not help the US when needed. But we must recall that NATO helped the US after the September 11 attacks. This shows that their claim is not accurate.
European capitals did not react very strongly to this. If the US really left NATO, it would be a major problem for Europe. Could this happen?
The US president does not have the authority to pull the US out of NATO. This would require congressional support, which does not seem possible at the moment. However, Trump could hinder NATO's activities and reduce the US military presence in Europe.
The British Prime Minister, along with other countries, is discussing the situation in the Strait of Hormuz. The US Secretary of Defense said that Iranian missiles cannot even reach Europe. The US goal is to open the Strait of Hormuz, which is currently closed.
Trump said he could withdraw from the war and the Strait of Hormuz could remain closed. But the US has many military bases in the region that Iran is bombing. The US must maintain its presence there.
Why did the US attack Iran? Trump may have wanted a quick victory, but the consequences of war are hard to predict. There is also talk of capturing Kharg Island, which would be possible for the US, but it would be difficult to hold it.
US presidents usually gain more support at the start of a war, but currently, Trump's support is not particularly high. If casualties occur among US troops, Trump's popularity could decline.
It is difficult to assess Iran's military strength. They have lost part of their air force and navy, but they still have many military capabilities. Iran regularly attacks its neighbors.
Will this war end in months or years? Most likely in months, but wars in the Middle East are usually not short.