Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for US withdrawal from NATO

Republican representative Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia calls for the US to withdraw NATOclaiming that the alliance is “not a reliable partner”.

Greene on Tuesday proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act that would be directed by the president Joe Biden to “withdraw the US from NATO”. Biden met with other world leaders at the NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, the same day, pledging that the US would stand by its “firm commitment“to the alliance.

The Georgia congresswoman has repeatedly spoken out against NATO and the United States providing any kind of support to Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia. Moscow’s “special military operation” was prompted in part by objections to expanding NATO borders and the Russian president. Vladimir Putindemands that Ukraine pledge never to join the alliance.

Greene said he wanted the US to withdraw for economic reasons as he announced his amendment, arguing that other NATO members were not paying their “fair share”.

“They are not a reliable partner whose defense costs should be paid for by American citizens,” Greene said said while the amendment is presented. “For most of the last decade, Germany has contributed only about 1% of its GDP to fund NATO obligations, while the United States is paying about 4% of our GDP for defend NATO countries”.

“The United States has been funding and promising to defend NATO countries for decades and paying more than its fair share,” he continued. “Western European countries could and should step up their financial contributions to ensure NATO’s security. Instead, they are fully indebted to Russia and US taxpayers who are expected to foot the bill” .

Greene introduced additional amendments to the bill, including bans on the United States sending long-range weapons and F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, arguing that doing so would “escalate the proxy war with Russia.”

Newsweek He reached out to the White House by email on Tuesday and the State Department online for comment.

Ex-president donald trump, who Greene strongly supports, has also often spoken out against NATO and the US helping Ukraine in its war with Russia. During his presidency, long before the current conflict began, Trump also threatened to take the U.S. completely out of the alliance.

While the prospect of US withdrawal from NATO remains highly unlikely during the Biden administration, the debate over the alliance has recently focused heavily on the possible admission of Ukraine amid the war in progress.

Crucially, if Ukraine were to become a member, Article 5 of the alliance treaty would require other NATO members to defend it by fighting Russia directly, which could effectively mark the start of a world war.

Greene and a selection from MAGA republicans recently criticized GOP Sen Lindsey Graham of South Carolina to propose a resolution to admit Ukraine, warning that this move could lead to aa world nuclear war.

Other Republicans and Democrats have expressed support for Ukraine becoming a member, although few have explicitly pushed for the country to be admitted while still fighting Russia.

Biden made the case for “a rational path for Ukraine to qualify to join NATO” during a recent CNN interview, implying that he would not support accession during the war, as if it happened, “then we are all at war”.

NATO leaders have been discussing Ukraine becoming a member during the summit in Vilnius this week. However, they have conspicuously avoided committing to a firm timetable for accession.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky denounced the lack of schedule on Tuesday, calling it “unprecedented and absurd” and an indication of lack of “respect” for Ukraine.

Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna called Ukraine’s admission “inevitable” to comments a Newsweek on Monday, while adding that there was “a common understanding” between NATO allies and the Ukrainian government that membership could not come “amidst the heated military crisis”.