Does a President's War of Choice Obligate Treaty Partners to Join the Cause? Light from History
Dr. David Adler · April 13, 2026
When a nation attacks another country and wages offensive warfare—a war of choice—are treaty partners in a defense alliance obligated to support the aggressor nation in the conduct of the war? If you listen to President Donald Trump, and members of his administration, the answer is clearly "yes." Thus it is that Trump has expressed toward members of NATO increasing frustration and anger, to the point that he declared on March 31, that if they do not join the United States in opening the Strait of Hormuz, that they would have to fend for themselves, and get "your own oil and fight your own battles." Trump has gone further in his threats, telling the British newspaper, The Telegraph, that he may withdraw the United States from NATO. Indeed, he said, "it is beyond reconsideration."
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