A group of high-ranking American officials and military personnel have called on the U.S. government to maintain its commitment to NATO. In a joint letter, published amid the Munich Security Conference, they argue that abandoning or replacing the alliance would cost the United States too much in money and influence. The signatories, who represented both Republican and Democratic parties and served under all presidents since 1997, described NATO as the 'cornerstone of U.S. national security.' They emphasized that the alliance is not a charity but a 'force multiplier,' enabling the U.S. to project and protect its power in ways that would be impossible or prohibitively expensive to do alone. According to them, the true value of NATO lies in deploying non-American resources to support U.S. security objectives, including securing global trade routes. The letter also states that European allies must make greater efforts and share the burden of conventional deterrence in Europe, rather than relying entirely on Washington. This call comes amid growing European concerns about U.S. commitment, particularly following President Trump's remarks about acquiring Greenland and his tendency to side with Russia in Ukraine negotiations. One of the letter's authors, Ambassador Ivo H. Daalder, explained that the statement aims to clarify the importance of NATO to American security and the free world, and to demonstrate the broad, bipartisan support for the alliance that still exists in the U.S.
