S8 Ep680: Anatol Lieven discusses the implications of the U.S. potentially leaving NATO. He notes that while a full withdrawal would require Senate approval, a hostile administration could still undermine the alliance by cutting intelligence sharing or halting the
The John Batchelor Show
John Batchelor
4.5 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 2 April 2026
⏱️ 2 minutes
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Summary
Anatol Lieven discusses the implications of the U.S. potentially leaving NATO. He notes that while a full withdrawal would require Senate approval, a hostile administration could still undermine the alliance by cutting intelligence sharing or halting the sale of critical weapons and air defense systems to European partners. (3)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | This is John Batchel, a conversation with colleague Anatol Levin of the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft, |
| 0:07.1 | looking for the meaning of the threat constantly from the Trump administration about leaving NATO. |
| 0:14.5 | What does that mean? How would it translate? What does it mean for Europe? What does it mean for the U.S.? |
| 0:19.0 | Anatole begins the conversation? |
| 0:21.6 | Leaving NATO, question mark. More tonight. |
| 0:25.6 | That's certainly a threat. Now, of course, no American administration can simply pull out of NATO because that requires a majority of the Senate. And you wouldn't get it. |
| 0:42.1 | You know, the majority of senators, certainly, of course, all the Democrats are committed to |
| 0:45.6 | staying in NATO. But the Trump administration can do a good deal short of that. And of course, |
| 0:51.4 | the first thing is to cut off intelligence to Ukraine, cut off intelligence |
| 0:57.6 | sharing with Europe, starting with the British, which is why the British are being, you know, |
| 1:02.3 | they're part of five eyes, which is one reason why they're being so relatively supportive. |
| 1:09.0 | And stop weapon sales to Europe to be passed on to Ukraine. And of course, |
| 1:17.7 | as long as the war in Iran goes on, or indeed afterwards, because America will need to replenish its |
| 1:23.6 | stocks, air defense systems in particular and missiles are running short anyway. So there is a |
| 1:31.9 | case, you know, we can't afford to give them to Iran because, sorry, to Ukraine, because we need |
| 1:37.1 | them ourselves. |
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