Former acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker has been chosen by Donald Trump as the US ambassador to NATO, an organization the president-elect has criticized for long. The announcement was made on Wednesday, the choice marks a remarkable shift for Whitaker, who has a background in law enforcement instead of foreign policy. Trump applauded Whitaker as a ”strong warrior” who will guard US interests and boost NATO relationships amid the global challenge of peace and stability.
Controversy regarding the appointment
Whitaker’s name has come at a time when Trump’s view of NATO remains debatable. Throughout his presidency, Trump has always raised questions on the importance of the alliance and has criticized all the members for not being able to meet the 2 percent GDP defense spending benchmark. NATO has reported a surge in the complaint countries from three in 2014 to 18 in 2024, the numbers had especially gone up by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He has earlier served as acting attorney general during Robert Mueller’s probe into Russia’s interference in the US election but has no major experience in foreign policy. Concerns have been raised by the critics of his qualifications, comparing him with previous ambassadors who have a wide range of experience in diplomatic, military, and politics. However, retired General Philip Breedlove, a former NATO commander, stated that trust and credibility with the president could outweigh formal foreign policy credentials.
Trump’s relationship with NATO
The US president-elect has warned allies that failure to meet defense spending goals could result in lessening US support. He even suggested that he might support Russian aggression against noncompliant nations. Such a statement has received criticism from all the global leaders including NATO-secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg, who emphasized the significance of collective defense for global security. Whitaker’s appointment will add to Trump’s narrative of restructuring the US approach to NATO.
(With inputs from AP