withdrawal from NATO

{{wikisource|North Atlantic Treaty#|The Withdrawal Clause}}Article 13 of the North Atlantic Treaty, is the article that member states use for informing other members or parties that it wishes to leave the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation. It states the following:

After the Treaty has been in force for twenty years, any Party may cease to be a Party one year after its notice of denunciation has been given to the Government of the United States of America, which will inform the Governments of the other Parties of the deposit of each notice of denunciation.

The far-right Revival party supports Bulgarian withdrawal from NATO.

Canada is a founding member of NATO and remains a member. In 2019, the Green Party advocated a review of Canadian membership of the alliance.{{Cite book |title=Vision Green - The Green Party of Canada |year=2019 |pages=118 |language=en}} The position of the social-democratic New Democratic Party is complicated;{{cite news |last=Engler |first=Yves |date=2021-04-20 |title=Where does the NDP really stand on NATO? |work=Canadian Dimension |url=https://canadiandimension.com/articles/view/where-does-the-ndp-really-stand-on-nato |access-date=2022-05-10}} while there is general support for NATO membership within the party, including from former party leaders Jack Layton and Tom Mulcair,{{Cite web |last=McCulloch |first=Rachael |title=What does the NDP think of NATO? |date=30 July 2020 |url=https://natoassociation.ca/what-does-the-ndp-think-of-nato/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |publisher=NATO Association of Canada |language=en-CA}} the NDP Socialist Caucus advocates revoking Canada's membership.{{Cite web |title=NATO and Foreign Policy / L'OTAN et la politique étrangère |url=https://ndpsocialists.ca/issues/nato-foreign-policy/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |publisher=NDP Socialist Caucus |language=en-CA}} Some of the reasons for opposition to membership of the alliance include membership being incompatible to the Canadian tradition of peacekeeping and concerns of Canadian sovereignty over its defence forces.

{{as of|2022}}, the Canadian political consensus is to support NATO membership as part of national defense policy. Parties that exist in the Canadian Parliament that support NATO membership include the governing left-of-centre Liberal Party,{{Cite web |title=Strong, Secure, Engaged, and Inclusive|publisher=Liberal Party of Canada |url=https://liberal.ca/our-platform/strong-secure-engaged-and-inclusive/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |website=liberal.ca |language=en-CA}} the opposition right-of-centre Conservative Party,{{Cite web |date=2022-04-05 |title=Conservatives call on government to increase national defence spending to achieve NATO commitments |url=https://www.conservative.ca/conservatives-call-on-government-to-increase-national-defence-spending-to-achieve-nato-commitments/ |access-date=2022-05-12 |publisher=Conservative Party of Canada |language=en-US}} and the Quebec sovereigntist Bloc Québécois.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

The far-left Enhedslisten would until 2022 withdraw from NATO. Instead, the party has a critical approach towards NATO.{{cite web | last=Hagedorn | first=Maja | title=Enhedslisten slår Nato-kurs fast: Udmeldelse er ikke aktuel : Forsvar og Beredskab | website=Altinget.dk | date=15 May 2022 | url=https://www.altinget.dk/forsvar/artikel/enhedslisten-slaar-nato-kurs-fast-udmeldelse-er-ikke-aktuel | language=da | access-date=4 March 2025}}

In 1966, due to souring relations between Washington and Paris because of the refusal to integrate France's nuclear deterrent with other North Atlantic powers, or to accept any collective form of control over its army, French president Charles de Gaulle downgraded France's membership in NATO and withdrew France from the NATO Military Command Structure to pursue more independent defense options.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031100547.html|title=After 43 Years, France to Rejoin NATO as Full Member|last=Cody|first=Edward|date=12 March 2009|newspaper=The Washington Post}} However, he also stated that France would remain in the alliance even after the end of the 20-year commitment period in 1969, unless the "fundamental elements of the relations between East and West" changed.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_160672.htm|title=NATO - Declassified: France and NATO|website=NATO|access-date=2019-06-16}}

In 2009, France rejoined the NATO Military Command Structure. The reversal was announced by President Nicolas Sarkozy and backed by the Parliament of France.{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7948133.stm|title=Sarkozy survives vote over Nato|date=17 March 2009|work=BBC News}}

Currently, of the noted political parties in France; those advocating withdrawal from NATO include the souverainist Popular Republican Union,Schrepf, Jerôme. [http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2013/05/24/1633424-l-upr-entre-conquete-et-resistance.html "Villeneuve-sur-lot. L'UPR entre conquête et résistance"], LaDépêche.fr, 24 May 2013. Retrieved on 1 October 2013 together with the left-wing La France Insoumise and the far left French Communist Party. The right-wing Gaullist Debout la France and the nationalist National Rally advocate reversing the 2009 decision for France returning to NATO command.{{Cite web|url=http://www.debout-la-france.fr/contenu/ses-idees|title=Ses idées ...|date=2015-08-26|website=Debout La France|language=fr|access-date=2019-06-14}} In a July 2024 poll, 54% of French people viewed NATO favorably, and 37% unfavorably. {{cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/07/02/views-of-nato-july-24/|title=NATO Seen Favorably in Member States; Confidence in Zelenskyy Down in Europe, U.S.|website=Pew Research|date=2024-07-02|access-date=2025-02-18}}

During the conversations leading to the German reunification, the Soviet Union sought to move the union of West Germany (in NATO) and East Germany (in the Warsaw Pact) into neutrality and de-nuclearization.

However, West German chancellor Helmut Kohl and American president George H. W. Bush wanted the united Germany to remain in NATO in spite of less than 20% of West Germans wanting to remain in NATO after the reunification.

Mikhail Gorbachev finally removed the Soviet objection and the new eastern territories of Germany became covered by NATO on the condition that no foreign forces or weapons of mass destruction were to be located on them.{{cite news |last1=Wiegrefe |first1=Klaus |title=Germany's Unlikely Diplomatic Triumph: An Inside Look at the Reunification Negotiations |url=https://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/germany-s-unlikely-diplomatic-triumph-an-inside-look-at-the-reunification-negotiations-a-719848.html |access-date=27 February 2022 |work=Der Spiegel |date=29 September 2010 |language=en}} The Left Party opposes military alliances, including NATO membership. {{Cite web |date=2023-09-14 |title=Konsequent für Frieden und globale Abrüstung. |url=https://www.die-linke.de/themen/frieden/ |access-date=2023-09-20 |website=DIE LINKE |language=de}}

In 1974 due to the Cyprus crisis, Greece withdrew military units from NATO forces in the Southern Mediterranean, over threats of invasion of Cyprus by fellow NATO member Turkey.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1964/08/18/archives/greece-withdrawing-units-from-nato-to-aid-cyprus.html|title=Greece Withdrawing Units From NATO to Aid Cyprus|date=1964-08-18|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-07-04|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}} Later in 1974 due to the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces, Greece withdrew from NATO military command. Notwithstanding, the country did not withdraw entirely from the organisation, but became significantly less active.{{Cite journal|date=May 1982|title=Greek-Turkish Relations: The Deadlocked Allies |url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP83B00228R000100170005-5.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122021341/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP83B00228R000100170005-5.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2017|journal=CIA - Directate of Intelligence}}

In 1980, the Greek foreign minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis made remarks about the situation where he could see Greece fully withdrawing from the organisation. However, later diplomatic pressure from the United States led to Greece fully re-integrating with the alliance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1980/10/01/greece-threatens-to-cut-ties-to-nato/76ba0fc5-b937-4ab4-8d33-146630b7aadd/|title=Greece Threatens to Cut Ties to NATO|last=Hoagl|first=Jim|date=1980-10-01|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=2019-07-04}}

According to a poll conducted in 2022, NATO remains popular among the Greek public with 78% wanting to remain in the alliance and only 18% wanting to leave.{{Cite news|url= https://kaparesearch.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/fnf-the-image-of-europe-in-greece-today_2022.pdf|title=THE IMAGE OF EUROPE IN GREECE TODAY|date=October 2022|work=Japan Research|access-date=2022-11-25}}

Iceland is unique amongst NATO members in that it does not have a standing army, and its defence forces consist of a militarised coastguard and a paramilitary peacekeeping force. Iceland's strong pacifist history has led to considerable opposition to NATO membership in Iceland. Nevertheless, the country was a host to the notable United States Navy base at Keflavík airport, near the country's capital Reykjavík.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_162083.htm|title=NATO - Declassified: Iceland and NATO|date=2016-06-16|website=NATO}}

The country's main nonpartisan pressure group for Iceland leaving NATO is {{ill|Samtök hernaðarandstæðinga|is}}, which is a branch of War Resisters' International.

In 2019, during a visit by the Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg to Iceland, Prime Minister Katrín Jakobsdóttir spoke of her support for withdrawing Iceland from NATO. Her party, the Left-Green Movement, is the senior partner of the Icelandic government, which also supports withdrawing, but there is not a majority in the Icelandic parliament for withdrawing.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stripes.com/news/iceland-rift-over-nato-membership-sidelined-in-arctic-security-talks-1.585543|title=Iceland rift over NATO membership sidelined in Arctic security talks|website=Stars and Stripes|access-date=2019-06-14}} {{as of|2022|5}}, she continues to oppose Icelandic membership in NATO.{{cite news|url=https://www.visir.is/g/20222266869d/katrin-jakobsdottir-enn-a-moti-adild-islands-ad-nato|title=Katrín Jakobsdóttir enn á móti aðild Íslands að NATO|language=is|author=Jakob Bjarnar|date=2022-05-23|access-date=2022-05-23|work=Vísir.is}}

A Gallup poll taken in April 2025 showed that 71% of Icelanders supported the country's NATO membership, while 12% where opposed.{{cite news|url=https://www.ruv.is/frettir/innlent/2025-04-07-islendingar-afram-hlynntir-adild-ad-nato-441005|title=Íslendingar áfram hlynntir aðild að NATO|date=2025-04-07|access-date=2025-04-07|author=Þorgerður Anna Gunnarsdóttir|publisher=RÚV|lang=is}}

Several political parties in Montenegro, including New Serb Democracy and the Democratic People's Party, oppose NATO membership.{{cite news|url=http://www.alo.rs/protest-protiv-nato-u-podgorici-video/23599|title=Protest protiv NATO u Podgorici|date=12 December 2015|language=sr}}{{cite news|url=http://www.srbijadanas.com/clanak/odrzan-jos-jedan-protest-u-podgorici-crvenim-kartonima-iskazali-nepoverenje-vladi-cg-24-01|title=Održan još jedan protest u Podgorici|date=24 January 2016|language=sr}} The 2020 Montenegrin parliamentary election resulted in a victory for these parties for the first time in 30 years. However, these parties did not formally pursue withdrawal upon taking office.{{cite news|url=https://balkaninsight.com/2020/09/07/fact-check-can-montenegro-withdraw-from-nato/|date=2020-09-07|access-date=2022-05-11|title=BIRN Fact-check: Can Montenegro Withdraw from NATO?|first=Samir|last=Kajosevic|work=Balkan Insight}}

The left-wing Levica party supports withdrawal of North Macedonia from NATO.

The Dutch consensus about foreign and defence policy is to remain a member of the alliance. Its membership is supported by all five main establishment parties in the Staten-General; the conservative-liberal VVD,{{Cite web|url=https://www.vvd.nl/standpunten/defensie/|title=Standpunt defense|date=2020-04-18|website=VVD|language=nl|access-date=2020-04-18}} the social-democratic PvdA,{{Cite web|url=https://www.pvda.nl/standpunten/internationaal-defensie/defensie/|title=Defensie {{!}} Standpunt|website=PvdA|language=nl|access-date=2020-04-18}} the Christian-democrat CDA,{{Cite web|url=https://www.cda.nl/standpunten/defensie/|title=Defensie|website=CDA|language=nl|access-date=2020-04-18}} right-wing populist PVV,{{Cite web|url=https://joop.bnnvara.nl/nieuws/discriminatie-politiegeweld-en-meer-is-pvv-echt-wil|title=Discriminatie, politiegeweld en meer: dit is wat de PVV écht wil|date=2017-02-18|website=BNNVARA - Joop|language=nl|trans-title=Discrimination, police brutality and more: this is what the PVV really wants|access-date=2020-04-18}} and social-liberal D66.{{Cite web|url=https://d66.nl/standpunt-over/navo-2/|title=NAVO - D66|website=D66 — Voor de toekomst|access-date=2020-04-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.nporadio1.nl/politiek/15671-de-navo-is-essentieel-voor-europa|title='De NAVO is essentieel voor Europa'|website=NPO Radio 1 - Spraakmakers|language=nl-nl|trans-title=NATO is essential for Europe|access-date=2020-04-18}} Other parties are supportive but would like to reform the alliance, such as the green-socialist GroenLinks.{{Cite web|url=https://groenlinks.nl/standpunten/navo|title=NAVO|website=GroenLinks|language=nl|access-date=2020-04-18}} While the far-right populist Forum voor Democratie supports NATO membership, it was reported by the investigative show Zembla that privately the party's leader Thierry Baudet would like the Netherlands to leave NATO and align the country's foreign policy with Russia.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bnnvara.nl/zembla/artikelen/thierry-baudet-wilde-nederland-uit-de-navo|title=Thierry Baudet wilde Nederland uit de NAVO. - Zembla - BNNVARA|website=Zembla|language=nl|access-date=2020-04-18}}{{Cite web|url=https://euobserver.com/foreign/148099|title=WhatsApp leak exposes Russia link to Dutch far right|website=EUobserver|date=17 April 2020 |language=en|access-date=2020-04-18}}

Some minor political parties in Romania oppose Romanian membership in NATO. One of them is Noua Dreaptă, which is also against the European Union.{{cite news|url=https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/intre-legionarism-deghizat-si-nationalism-autoritar/29121256.html|title=Între legionarism deghizat și naționalism-autoritar|first=William|last=Totok|newspaper=Radio Europa Liberă Moldova|date=25 March 2018|language=ro}}

The left-wing electoral alliance Unidas Podemos supported Spanish withdrawal from NATO.{{cite news|url=https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/spanish-leftists-oppose-black-sea-mission-nato-membership/|title=Spanish leftists oppose Black Sea mission, NATO membership|publisher=EURACTIV|first=Fernando|last=Heller|date=2022-01-23|access-date=2022-10-17}}

The far-right Republic Movement party advocates for the withdrawal of Slovakia from NATO.

=== Turkey ===

{{See also|Turkey in NATO}}

Since the 2016 attempted coup d'état, the 2019 Turkish Offensive into North–Eastern Syria, the deterioration of relations between Turkey and the United States, the deterioration of relations between Greece and Turkey, warming relations between Turkey and Russia, and opposition towards Finland and Sweden in their membership bids in 2022 which led to delays in joining the alliance, there have been calls for Turkey to leave or be thrown out of NATO.{{Cite web |last=Carbonaro |first=Giulia |date=2022-05-20 |title=Could Turkey be expelled from NATO over blocking Finland, Sweden? |url=https://www.newsweek.com/could-turkey-expelled-nato-over-blocking-finland-sweden-1708532 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20220601055450/https://www.newsweek.com/could-turkey-expelled-nato-over-blocking-finland-sweden-1708532 |archive-date=2022-06-01 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Şebnem Oruç |first=Merve |title=Turkey's NATO membership and move to cement ties with Russia |url=https://www.dailysabah.com/columns/merve-sebnem-oruc/2016/08/11/turkeys-nato-membership-and-move-to-cement-ties-with-russia |access-date=2019-06-14 |website=Daily Sabah|date=11 August 2016 }}{{Cite web |last=Weiss |first=Stanley A. |date=2016-02-23 |title=It's Time to Kick Erdogan's Turkey Out of NATO |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/its-time-to-kick-erdogans_b_9300670 |access-date=2019-06-14 |website=Huffington Post |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Lieberman |first=Joe |date=2022-05-18 |title=Does Erdogan's Turkey Belong in NATO? |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/does-erdogans-turkey-belong-in-nato-sweden-finland-join-veto-weapons-peace-broker-11652882743?mod=hp_opin_pos_2 |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Wall Street Journal}} Inside Turkey, politicians like the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli suggested that Turkey leaving NATO should be considered an option.{{Cite web |title=Leaving NATO should be on agenda: MHP leader - Turkey News |url=https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/leaving-nato-should-be-on-agenda-mhp-leader-174038 |access-date=2022-05-29 |website=Hürriyet |date=24 May 2022 |language=en}} In May 2022, opposition leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said that if the Justice and Development Party and the Nationalist Movement Party decided to close the Incirlik Air Base to NATO, the Republican People's Party would also support it.{{Cite web |date=27 May 2022 |title=Main opposition urges gov't to close İncirlik base over NATO row |url=https://ahvalnews.com/kemal-kilicdaroglu/main-opposition-urges-govt-close-incirlik-base-over-nato-row |access-date=29 May 2022 |website=Ahval |archive-date=27 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527204947/https://ahvalnews.com/kemal-kilicdaroglu/main-opposition-urges-govt-close-incirlik-base-over-nato-row |url-status=dead }}

{{See also|NATO debate in the Scottish National Party}}

The established consensus of the United Kingdom's defence and foreign policy framework includes full membership and participation of NATO. Membership is supported by both major parties in the UK (The Conservatives{{cite web|url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx|title=The EU should only act when NATO cannot|last=Fox|first=Liam|date=11 February 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401061150/http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx|archive-date=1 April 2010|access-date=4 March 2010|df=dmy}} and Labour{{Cite web|url=https://labour.org.uk/manifesto/a-global-britain/|title=A Global Britain|website=The Labour Party|access-date=2019-10-16}}) and the Liberal Democrats.{{Cite web|url=https://www.libdems.org.uk/champions-int-liberalism|title=Champions of international liberalism|date=2019-08-21|website=Liberal Democrats|language=en|access-date=2019-10-16}}

Originally out of the nationwide parties in the House of Commons, only the Green Party was against NATO membership and advocated leaving the alliance.{{Cite web|url=https://policy.greenparty.org.uk/pd.html|title=Peace & Defence|website=The Green Party|access-date=2019-10-16}} However, this changed during their 2023 spring conference, when a motion was passed changing the party's viewpoint by abandoning its opposition to NATO. This was done in a review of the party's policies on security and defence, in light of the invasion of Ukraine by Russia.{{Cite web |last=Jarvis |first=Chris |date=2023-03-12 |title=Green Party abandons opposition to NATO |url=https://bright-green.org/2023/03/12/green-party-abandons-opposition-to-nato/ |access-date=2023-03-14 |website=Bright Green |language=en-GB}} However, there are individual Members of Parliament who support the UK withdrawing from NATO, such as Jeremy Corbyn.{{cite news|last=Dutta|first=Kunal|date=4 August 2015|title=Jeremy Corbyn winning Labour leadership could threaten Tory plans to bomb Isis in Syria|work=The Independent|location=London|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-winning-labour-leadership-could-threaten-tory-plans-to-bomb-isis-in-syria-10436528.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923060126/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jeremy-corbyn-winning-labour-leadership-could-threaten-tory-plans-to-bomb-isis-in-syria-10436528.html|archive-date=23 September 2015}}{{Cite news|last=Corbyn|first=Jeremy|date=23 May 2012|url=https://imgur.com/a/vmtJO|title=High time for an End to Nato|work=Morning Star}}

In October 2017, the youth wing of Labour, Young Labour, passed a motion at their annual conference which called for Britain to withdraw from NATO, stating it was a tool of American imperialism.{{Cite journal|title=NATIONAL YOUTH POLICY CONFERENCE Draft Motions Document|url=https://theclarionmag.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YLPC-motions.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124225842/https://theclarionmag.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/YLPC-motions.pdf|url-status=usurped|archive-date=24 November 2018|journal=Young Labour Conference 2017|pages=47–48}}{{cite web|last=Fisher|first=Lucy|date=16 October 2017|title=Young Labour Calls for Nato Withdrawal|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/edition/news/young-labour-calls-for-nato-withdrawal-cgx8f92dg|access-date=16 October 2017|work=The Times}}{{cite news|author=Lizzy Buchan|date=16 October 2017|title=Young Labour brands Donald Trump a 'fascist' and calls for Nato withdrawal|work=The Independent|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/young-labour-donald-trump-nato-membership-uk-withdraw-youth-jeremy-corbyn-a8002451.html|access-date=16 February 2019}} They reconfirmed their position on withdrawal during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine by Russia on Twitter.{{Cite tweet |author=Young Labour |author-link=Elon Musk |user=younglabouruk |number=1493209454065631235 |title=NATOs acts of aggression both historical and present are a threat to all of our safety. Young Labours delegates from across our membership and affiliates voted that we should withdraw from NATO and pursue an international policy based on peace, adopting this as official policy.}} Support for NATO is high in the United Kingdom with a poll in 2017 indicating that 62% of British people have a favourable view of NATO, compared with only 19% having unfavourable view of the Alliance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/09/nato-is-seen-favorably-in-many-member-countries-but-almost-half-of-americans-say-it-does-too-little/|title=Many members see NATO favorably, but almost half in US say it does too little|website=Pew Research Center|date=9 July 2018 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-17}}

The situation with whether an independent Scotland should join NATO if it ever achieves independence, has been fraught within supporters of an independent Scotland. Originally the Scottish National Party was against NATO membership, much of this was due to the party's non-nuclear stance with Scotland hosting the Trident nuclear programme at the Clyde Naval Base. This changed in 2012, when the SNP under the leadership of Alex Salmond changed its manifesto saying that it would support NATO membership and would join NATO if Scotland ever becomes independent, provided the alliance respect Scotland's non-nuclear stance.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-19993694|title=SNP votes to end anti-Nato policy|date=2012-10-19|access-date=2019-10-17|language=en-GB}} This led to some senior members of the SNP to leave the party, including John Finnie and Jean Urquhart.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/oct/23/msps-resign-snp-nato-stance|title=Two MSPs resign from SNP over party's NATO stance|date=23 October 2012|work=The Guardian|access-date=17 December 2013}} During the prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine the SNP's defence spokesman Stewart McDonald reconfirmed the SNP's support for NATO.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/columnists/why-an-independent-scotland-should-be-a-nato-member-stewart-mcdonald-mp-3574877|title=Why an independent Scotland should be a Nato member|first=Stewart|last=McDonald|date=19 February 2022|work=The Scotsman|access-date=19 February 2022|language=en}}

Other independence parties including the Scottish Socialist Party{{Cite book|title=SSP General Election Manifesto 2015|publisher=Scottish Socialist Party|year=2015|url=https://scottishsocialistparty.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-SSP-Manifesto.pdf|pages=20}} and the Scottish Greens{{Cite web|url=https://greens.scot/blog/peace-and-disarmament-are-still-key-for-greens|title=Peace and Disarmament are still key for Greens|date=2019-09-05|website=Scottish Greens|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}}{{cite news |last=McCall |first=Chris |date=6 March 2022 |title=Independent Scotland should not join NATO, Greens insist |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/independent-scotland-should-not-join-26397712 |access-date=10 April 2022 |website=Daily Record |language=en}} as well as some in the SNP (mainly on the left) do not support Scotland's membership and would not want to join if Scotland becomes independent.

The Welsh nationalist party Plaid Cymru is completely opposed to NATO membership and supports withdrawal from the alliance if Welsh independence is achieved.{{Cite web|title=Who should YOU vote for at the General Election?|url=http://www.whoshallivotefor.com/quiz/discuss/world/289|access-date=2021-01-01|website=whoshallivotefor.com|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|date=2014-09-04|title=Plaid Cymru Statement on NATO Summit|url=https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/en/archive/20150404193118/http://www.partyof.wales/news/2014/09/04/plaid-cymru-statement-on-nato-summit/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220725064531/https://www.webarchive.org.uk/wayback/en/archive/20150404193118/http://www.partyof.wales/news/2014/09/04/plaid-cymru-statement-on-nato-summit/|archive-date=2022-07-25|access-date=2021-01-01|website=www.webarchive.org.uk}} [http://www.partyof.wales/news/2014/09/04/plaid-cymru-statement-on-nato-summit/ Alt URL] Instead the party advocates a defence position of non-alignment similar to that of Ireland. The leader of Plaid Cymru at the time, Leanne Wood criticized her Scottish counterparts in an interview.{{Cite web|title=Interview: Leanne Wood - Wales and the spreading of the Scottish rebellion|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/opendemocracyuk/interview-leanne-wood-wales-and-spreading-of-scottish-rebellion/|access-date=2021-01-01|website=openDemocracy|language=en}}

Among the parties in Northern Ireland, NATO policy tends to follow along the unionist-nationalist axis using the basis of the UK's membership and Ireland's non-alignment. All the main parties that support Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom including the Ulster Unionists{{Cite web|url=https://uup.org/news/4457/21/Sustained-investment-needed-to-meet-NATO-commitments-Tom-Elliott-MP#.Xai0i-j0nIU|title=Sustained investment needed to meet NATO commitments – Tom Elliott MP|website=Ulster Unionist|language=en|access-date=2019-10-17}} and the Democratic Unionist{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-the-dup-the-democratic-unionist-party-everything-you-need-to-know-2017-6|title=Everything you need to know about the DUP, the party supporting the new Tory government|last=Moshinsky|first=Ben|website=Business Insider|access-date=2019-10-17}} parties, support NATO membership. Meanwhile, the parties that advocate unification of Northern Ireland with the Republic of Ireland, including SDLP and Sinn Féin, support Irish neutrality. Among the non-sectarian parties which are parties are neither unionist nor nationalist; the Alliance Party supports NATO membership,{{Cite book|url=https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/allianceparty/pages/4034/attachments/original/1574642456/WestminsterManifestoOnline.pdf|title=Alliance Party Westminster Manifesto 2019|year=2019|pages=38|chapter=International Affairs}} while the Green Party is ambiguous in its viewpoint.

Among British non-governmental organisations, both the pacifist Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament{{Cite web|date=2019-12-11|title=CND review of the manifestos -|url=https://cnduk.org/review-of-the-party-manifestos/|access-date=2021-01-01|language=en-GB}} and the Stop the War Coalition{{Cite web|last=Coalition|first=Stop the War|title=NATO: What Is It Good For? - A Stop the War Coalition Briefing|url=https://stopthewarcoalition.bigcartel.com/product/nato-what-is-it-good-for-a-stop-the-war-coalition-briefing|access-date=2021-01-16|website=Stop the War Coalition}} advocates British withdrawal from the alliance.

The United States has maintained longstanding support to NATO. Most recently, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, enacted on December 22, 2023, prohibits the President from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO without approval of a two-third Senate super-majority or an act of Congress. The bill provision came amidst then-presidential candidate Donald Trump's mixed messages on NATO.{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Laura |date=2023-12-14 |title=Congress approves bill barring any president from unilaterally withdrawing from NATO |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/4360407-congress-approves-bill-barring-president-withdrawing-nato/ |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}} However, it is unclear whether the law can legally stop the President from unilaterally withdrawing, because of constitutional authority that the President has regarding foreign policy.{{Cite web |last1=Gould |first1=Joe |last2=Detsch |first2=Jack |last3=O’Brien |first3=Connor |date=2024-11-08 |title=The law is 'not airtight': Trump may have a way out of NATO |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2024/11/08/trump-nato-congress-courts-00188426 |access-date=2024-12-31 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}

Polling conducted by Pew Research Center in 2017, said that 62% of Americans are favorable to NATO compared to 23% who are not favorable. In terms of voters, over three-quarters of Democrats are favorable with just 48% of Republicans favorable. Also they said that a plurality of those surveyed, 47% said NATO does too little globally.{{Cite web |date=9 July 2018 |title=Many members see NATO favourably, but almost half in US say it does too little |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/07/09/nato-is-seen-favorably-in-many-member-countries-but-almost-half-of-americans-say-it-does-too-little/ |access-date=2019-06-15 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}} In further polling in 2019 on the eve of the 70th anniversary of NATO's founding, 77% of Americans say being a member of NATO is good for the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.people-press.org/2019/04/02/large-majorities-in-both-parties-say-nato-is-good-for-the-u-s/|title=Large Majorities in Both Parties Say NATO Is Good for the U.S. {{!}} Pew Research Center|date=2019-04-02|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-15}}

While both major parties support NATO membership,{{Cite web|url=https://www.isidewith.com/en-gb/political-parties/democratic-vs-republican/foreign-policy/nato|title=Democratic vs Republican on nato|website=iSideWith|language=en-gb|access-date=2019-06-15}} all the major third parties including the Green Party,{{Cite web|url=https://www.gp.org/greens_say_no_to_nato|title=Greens Say 'No to NATO' While War Parties Give Standing Ovations to NATO|date=9 April 2019|website=www.gp.org|access-date=2019-06-15}} the Libertarian Party,{{Cite web|url=https://www.lp.org/afghanistan-and-nato/|title=Afghanistan and NATO|last=Daugherty|first=Lauren|date=2017-08-22|website=Libertarian Party|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-15}} and the Constitution Party{{Cite web|url=https://www.constitutionparty.com/withdrawal-from-the-north-atlantic-treaty-organization/|title=Withdrawal from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Resolution|date=2006-12-01|website=Constitution Party|language=en-US|access-date=2019-06-15}} support withdrawing the United States from NATO.

In December 2024, president-elect Donald Trump suggested that he might support withdrawal from NATO in light of low defense spending by America's European allies.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-08 |title=Trump discusses cutting Ukraine aid, mass deportations in first post-election TV interview |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20241208-trump-touts-tariffs-mass-deportations-and-nato-skepticism-in-tv-interview |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=France 24 |language=en}} This sentiment was later echoed more strongly by his senior advisor, Elon Musk, who expressed that the United States should leave both the United Nations and NATO in March 2025.{{Cite web |last=Ogden |first=Chris |date=2025-03-05 |title=Elon Musk thinks the US should leave the UN – what if Trump does it? |url=https://theconversation.com/elon-musk-thinks-the-us-should-leave-the-un-what-if-trump-does-it-251483 |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=The Conversation |language=en-US}} In 2024 and 2025, the Pew Research Center reported that support for NATO membership had declined among Republican voters in light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |last=Austin |first=Richard Wike, Moira Fagan, Sneha Gubbala and Sarah |date=2024-05-08 |title=2. Americans’ opinions of NATO |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2024/05/08/americans-opinions-of-nato/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Fagan |first=Moira |date=2025-02-14 |title=Americans’ views of the war in Ukraine continue to differ by party |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2025/02/14/americans-views-of-the-war-in-ukraine-continue-to-differ-by-party/ |access-date=2025-04-02 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}} As of February 2025, 51% of Republican or Republican-leaning voters believe that the United States does not benefit from NATO membership, in contrast to 17% of Democratic or Democratic-leaning voters.

{{Globalize|2=the Mediterranean Sea|date=June 2021}} At the time of the establishment of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949, many parts of the world were either overseas or dependent territories of countries such as France and the United Kingdom. As such, these regions, which are today independent states such as Algeria and Malta, were then part of NATO. However, the treaty limits involvement to no lower than the Atlantic region of Tropic of Cancer, and thus de facto limits membership to those in North America and Europe as stated in Articles V & VI. This means that once those overseas territories gained independence, those outside that area could not rejoin as full members.

When France joined NATO in 1949, the northern African territory of Algeria was part of Metropolitan France. By virtue of this, Algeria was part of NATO since its inception. In fact, Article VI clearly states that an armed attack on Algeria would be considered an attack on NATO.

When Algeria gained its independence from France in 1962, its membership was ceased and the Article VI clause was no longer applicable. Like many Maghreb and Arab countries, it aligned itself with the Soviet Union thereafter until the end of the Cold War. Since 2000, Algeria has participated in NATO's Mediterranean Dialogue forum and various training with NATO member countries and military cooperation in the defense industry, especially with Germany.{{Cite web|title=NATO forces train with Algeria|url=https://mc.nato.int/media-centre/news/2020/nato-forces-train-with-algeria-.aspx|access-date=2022-01-22|website=mc.nato.int|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=NATO|title=L'OTAN et l'Algérie renforcent leur coopération scientifique contre le terrorisme|url=http://www.nato.int/cps/fr/natohq/news_183762.htm|access-date=2022-01-22|website=NATO|language=en}}

At the time of the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949, the Mediterranean island of Malta was a dependent territory in a form of a self-governing crown colony of the United Kingdom. Dependent territories like Malta had the international memberships of their mother country, so the island was part of NATO. In fact, the headquarters of the Allied Forces Mediterranean was based in the town of Floriana between 1952 and 1965.

When Malta gained independence in 1964, the country did not apply to join NATO, due to the relations between NATO and the prime minister George Borg Olivier at the time, but nevertheless supported the alliance.{{Cite book|url=https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-00927A004600110002-0.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122225657/https://www.cia.gov/library/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP79-00927A004600110002-0.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 January 2017|title=The Outlook for an Independent Malta|publisher=Central Intelligence Agency|year=1964|location=Library - Reading Room}} This changed in 1971, when Labour's Dom Mintoff was elected as prime minister and stated that Malta is neutral in its foreign policy,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1971/08/17/archives/malta-confirms-break-with-nato-but-mintoff-says-members-can-buy.html|title=MALTA CONFIRMS BREAK WITH NATO|date=17 August 1971|work=The New York Times|access-date=19 September 2019}} a position which was later enacted into the country's constitution in 1974. Later the country joined the Non-Aligned Movement in 1979, at the same time when the British Royal Navy left its base in Malta Dockyard.{{citation needed|date=June 2023}}

In 1995, Malta joined the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council multilateral defence forum and NATO's Partnership for Peace defence program. However, it withdrew its membership from both organisations a year later in 1996 by the newly elected Labour government. Maltese foreign policy changed notably in 2004, with the country joining the European Union and it re-joined the EAPC and PfP programs in 2008, pointing to a change in the island's foreign relations. Over time, Malta has been building its relations with NATO and getting involved in wider projects including the PfP Planning and Review Process and the NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme.{{Cite web |last=NATO |title=Relations with Malta |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52108.htm |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=NATO |language=en}}{{Cite journal |title=Country File 2021 - Malta |url=https://www.nato.int/science/country-fliers/Malta.pdf |journal=The NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme |language=en}}

Membership of NATO is not supported by any of the country's political parties including the current governing Labour and the opposition Nationalists. Polling done by the island-nation's Ministry of Foreign Affairs found in February 2022 (before the Russian invasion of Ukraine) that nearly two-thirds support the island's neutral position, and only 6% are against it.{{Cite web |title=Two in three Maltese strongly support neutrality - survey |url=https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/two-in-three-maltese-strongly-support-neutrality-survey.933304 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=Times of Malta |date=9 February 2022 |language=en-gb}} NATO's secretary-general Stoltenberg says the alliance fully respects Malta's position of neutrality, and put no pressure for the country to join the alliance.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_52108.htm|title=Relations with Malta|date=12 October 2018|website=NATO}}

Like Malta, Cyprus was a crown colony at the time of the United Kingdom until it gained independence in 1960. As such, Cyprus was also a member of the NATO under the British crown. However, the reason for Cyprus' non-membership is due to the 1974 Cyprus conflict and relations between Greece and Turkey. This reason even extends to Cyprus' non-participation in the Partnership for Peace program and the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council multilateral defence forum. In May 2022, Cyprus Defence Minister, Charalambos Petrides, confirmed that the country would not apply to NATO despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine.{{Cite web |date=2022-05-19 |title=Cyprus will not apply for Nato membership at the moment def minister says |url=https://daily-cyprus.com/cyprus-will-not-apply-for-nato-membership-at-the-moment-def-minister-says/ |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=Daily Cyprus |language=en-GB |archive-date=19 May 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220519165702/https://daily-cyprus.com/cyprus-will-not-apply-for-nato-membership-at-the-moment-def-minister-says/ |url-status=dead }}

However, the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia remain under British control as a British Overseas Territory.{{Cite web |title=Cyprus Sovereign Base Areas |url=https://www.ukotcf.org.uk/europe-territories/cyprus-sovereign-base-areas/ |access-date=2022-05-06 |website=UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum |language=en-GB}}

• Enlargement of NATO
• Withdrawal from the European Union
• Withdrawal from the Council of Europe

{{Reflist}}

{{North Atlantic Treaty Organization}}

Category:NATO relations

Category:Opposition to NATO

Category:Politics of NATO

Category:Territorial evolution

NATO