OPINION:
As President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House, a number of foreign policy decisions must be made. The international order faces increasing uncertainty, particularly in the context of U.S. foreign policy. Recent events involving key U.S. allies in Europe and the Middle East demand a serious reassessment of relationships that could have broader implications for global security.
The decision by Poland to enforce an International Criminal Court arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he attend the official International Holocaust Remembrance Commemoration at Auschwitz, combined with Turkey’s continuous provocations toward both Israel and other U.S. allies, signals a critical moment for the incoming Trump administration to reconsider America’s foreign policy priorities.
It is time to reassess America’s relations with certain NATO members, especially Poland and Turkey, and reevaluate their roles in the West’s future security architecture.
First, Poland, traditionally seen as one of Israel’s strongest supporters in Europe, recently made a significant policy shift that should raise alarm bells for Washington.
The Polish government, at the urging of the International Criminal Court, or ICC, announced that it would enforce a warrant for Mr. Netanyahu’s arrest. This move is unprecedented in the modern diplomatic relationship between Israel and Poland, which has long prided itself on commemorating the Holocaust and its deep ties with the Jewish state.
Poland’s decision to enforce this warrant highlights a growing rift not only in Israeli-Polish relations but also in the wider European approach to Israel’s security. Polish leaders know that the arrest warrant, the first ever given to a leader of a democratic nation, is illegitimate. To enforce it while Israel is under attack and is fighting an existential war is a deeply problematic stance.
For the United States, which has consistently supported Israel diplomatically, Poland’s stance raises serious questions about its alignment in a rapidly changing geopolitical environment. The U.S. needs to carefully consider whether this type of action, taken by a NATO ally, is consistent with the principles of shared democratic values and security interests that have historically defined the alliance.
Simultaneously, Turkey’s increasingly aggressive foreign policy toward Israel and its neighbors underscores a growing divergence in its strategic interests relative to the United States and its allies.
Under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey has repeatedly gone beyond mere criticism of Israeli policies, veering into antisemitism and hypocrisy, especially regarding Israel’s existential war, which began with the Oct. 7, 2023, massacre, while also engaging in military actions that have destabilized the region.
Turkey’s repeated military incursions into northern Syria, ostensibly to target Kurdish forces but also threatening the U.S.-aligned Syrian Democratic Forces, further complicates the American position.
Moreover, Turkey’s efforts to expand its regional influence, including its interventionist behavior in Libya and its growing ties with Russia, are raising questions about Turkey’s commitment to NATO’s collective defense and Western democratic values. The U.S. has long supported Turkey’s membership in NATO, but Mr. Erdogan’s authoritarian turn and his aggressive foreign policy suggest that this alliance may no longer align with American interests.
These developments clarify that the U.S. must reevaluate its relationship with certain NATO allies, especially Poland and Turkey.
The incoming Trump administration must consider whether continuing to provide blanket support to countries undermining the Western alliance’s core principles is in America’s best interest.
This is not to say that the U.S. should abandon its commitments or abandon NATO, but a more pragmatic and discerning approach is needed.
The U.S. should hold all nations, including NATO members, accountable for actions against shared democratic values and national and regional security interests.
The Trump administration should explore alternative security arrangements with countries in the region that share democratic and security interests as Turkey’s strategic value diminishes.
The U.S. must also recognize the risks involved in allowing NATO members to act unilaterally in ways that undermine both the West’s global position and its influence in key regions. A reassessment of U.S. alliances should include a frank discussion about the future of NATO and whether all members are equally committed to the collective defense and democratic values that it was founded upon.
As the international community navigates an increasingly complex and multipolar world, the United States must remain vigilant in defending its interests and the values it holds dear.
The actions of Poland in the ICC matter and Turkey’s destabilizing behavior in the Middle East suggest that these nations may not always be reliable partners in securing global peace and security.
The incoming Trump administration must take this moment to reassess its approach to NATO and strengthen ties with allies that share America’s values and strategic goals. The future of the trans-Atlantic alliance depends on a more pragmatic, values-driven foreign policy that aligns security with democracy.
• Bobby Rechnitz is a Los-Angeles based philanthropist and real estate developer who serves as chairman of the Abraham Accords Roundtable and Golda Meir Commemorative Coin Committee in Washington.
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