Why NATO Has a Hard Time Committing

Commitment was the dominant topic at the NATO summit in Brussels. Of particular note, the May 25 gathering was the first for U.S. President Donald Trump, who has frequently called for an increased commitment by NATO member states. In fact, during his address to the collected leaders of the alliance, Trump emphasized that each member must fulfill its obligations by spending its "fair share" of 2 percent of gross domestic product on defense. And, in light of the bombing at Manchester Arena, the U.S. president also reinforced the need for the alliance to continue the fight against terrorism. Trump's first NATO outing comes at a time of adjustment for NATO, with the perception of Russian aggression again raising concerns of just how committed its members are to their collective defense. NATO's main challenge is to reshape its strategy and objectives under a specific concept in a changing world. Since the organization...