Global security at risk: The United States withdrawal from NATO and the UN

The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, Elon Musk, has shown great support for the idea of the withdrawal of the US from NATO and the United Nations. The head of the  Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) expressed his opinion with these words, “I support this,” endorsing the idea that the US should exit these international organizations.

This came to light after Senator Mike Lee introduced the Disengaging Entirely From the United Nations Debacle Act of 2025 in February. The bill suggests ending the membership of the US in the United Nations, preventing financial contributions, and canceling the agreement that permits the UN to maintain its headquarters in New York. It also wants to take away UN workers’ legal protection in the US. Lee called the UN a “stage for dictators” that hurt America’s interests.

Similarly, discussions about the US withdrawing from NATO have also sparked controversy. ‌US President Donald Trump has strongly criticized NATO, blaming European allies for not fulfilling ‌defense spending commitments. He said that member states should increase their contributions to 5% of GDP, otherwise the US would take a step back and finish its support. Nowadays, the United States is one of the largest contributors to the United Nations. In 2022, the United States provided over $18 billion to the United Nations, which accounted for nearly one-third of the UN’s budget. According to critics the removal of the US could weaken ‌security frameworks. 

President Donald Trump expressed his idea of cutting military aid to ‌Ukraine and leaving NATO. Back in December 2024, when Trump mentioned that NATO countries should spend more on defense or fairly treat the United States if they do not fulfill their commitments, he might have thought about pulling out of the alliance.

This idea of Trump increased the concern of ‌European allies about the safety of their region. The US withdrawal from NATO could weaken the alliance’s ability to protect its members. The US greatly supports the different European Nations for military defense so its removal raises uncertainty about security in the area.

Trump again and again emphasizes that NATO members must increase their defense spending. He opposed many European nations for not meeting the 2% GDP defense spending target and recently demanded they increase it to 5%. It is a figure many analysts see as unrealistic given Europe’s economic constraints. Trump stated,

“If you don’t pay your bills, you get no protection.”

Global security dynamics have been impacted greatly due to certain changes in ‌US foreign policy. It includes the withdrawal of the US from the UN and NATO membership. After Trump’s announcement, European leaders are worried about how they will maintain ‌regional security on their own. This is because‌ many European nations strongly depend upon ‌US financial support. It simply means that Europe should rethink ‌its security measures and strengthen its defense initiatives without the United States. 

The interplay between Elon Musk’s controversial support for US withdrawal from international bodies, President Trump’s foreign policy positions, and the reactions from global leaders highlights a period of significant geopolitical uncertainty.

Leaders across the globe need to watch closely and analyze how these policies affect the relationships of different nations. The future of global security and diplomatic cooperation may depend on how nations respond and adapt to these shifts.