Stoltenberg’s memoirs reveal how Trump nearly dismantled NATO in 2018

Monday 06 October 2025 - 10:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Stoltenberg’s memoirs reveal how Trump nearly dismantled NATO in 2018

The newly published memoirs of former NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg have exposed just how close the alliance came to collapse during Donald Trump’s presidency. His book, On My Watch, released this week, recounts a tense and unprecedented standoff at the Brussels summit on July 12, 2018, when Trump threatened to pull the United States out of NATO unless European allies immediately doubled their defense spending.

A near-collapse at the Brussels summit

Stoltenberg describes that day as “possibly the meeting where NATO would be destroyed.” According to his detailed account, Trump’s outburst “I’m leaving this meeting. There’s no reason for me to be here” sent shockwaves through the room, leaving European leaders scrambling to prevent the alliance’s disintegration after nearly seven decades of collective defense.

Trump demanded that all NATO members instantly raise their defense budgets to 4% of GDP, far exceeding the existing 2% target. When German Chancellor Angela Merkel and others pushed back, explaining such spending increases required parliamentary approval, Trump reportedly grew agitated.

“The United States doesn’t need NATO. Why should I keep paying for this organization?” Trump said, according to Stoltenberg. He then publicly mocked several allies, calling out Belgium for spending less than 1% and expressing “disappointment” with Croatia.

The confrontation only cooled when Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte—who would later succeed Stoltenberg as NATO chief in October 2024, reminded Trump that alliance spending had already risen by $33 billion during his term. Trump then scribbled a note to Stoltenberg requesting public acknowledgment for driving that increase, which the Secretary General granted to defuse the crisis.

Trump’s renewed dominance within NATO

The near-collapse of 2018 marked a turning point. Now in his second term, Trump has achieved what once seemed impossible: securing an agreement from NATO allies to allocate 5% of GDP to defense by 2035. The deal, reached at the June 2025 summit in The Hague, includes 3.5% for direct military spending and 1.5% for defense infrastructure.

All 32 NATO members now meet or exceed the original 2% target, compared to only three in 2014. Current Secretary General Mark Rutte has credited Trump’s pressure for driving this unprecedented rise in European defense budgets.

European reaction and lasting impact

Stoltenberg’s memoir also reveals how Trump’s confrontational tactics exposed deep divisions within NATO. He allegedly considered excluding Norway, Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands for failing to meet spending goals. Former U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis even apologized to Stoltenberg for Trump’s behavior and advised him to avoid discussing budget figures directly with the president.

The revelations come as Trump continues to reshape NATO dynamics through threats of sanctions on Russia and persistent demands for higher defense contributions. While his approach has been controversial, the financial strength of the alliance has grown significantly, with European defense spending reaching record levels amid continued concern over Russian aggression.

Stoltenberg concludes that the 2018 crisis left a lasting mark on NATO unity: “If an American president declares he will no longer defend his allies and walks out of a NATO summit in protest, then the treaty and its security guarantees hold little meaning.”