Can the US withdraw from NATO?

Can the U.S. Leave NATO?

It’s a question that occasionally surfaces in American political discourse: Can the United States simply withdraw from NATO? The short answer is: not easily—and certainly not by presidential decree alone.

NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, has been a cornerstone of U.S. foreign and defense policy since its founding in 1949. As a mutual defense alliance, it binds the U.S. and its member nations with the principle that an attack on one is an attack on all. Over the decades, its role has evolved, but its strategic importance remains deeply embedded in transatlantic security.

Until recently, the power to withdraw from NATO rested largely in the hands of the President, under Article X of the North Atlantic Treaty, which allows members to leave with one year’s notice. However, a significant shift occurred with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024, signed into law on December 22, 2023.

This legislation explicitly restricts the President from unilaterally withdrawing the United States from NATO. Instead, such a move would now require either a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate or formal approval through an act of Congress. This change reflects growing concern among lawmakers about the potential for abrupt shifts in foreign policy that could undermine long-standing alliances.

The law doesn’t make withdrawal impossible—but it does make it far more difficult. It ensures that any decision to leave NATO would be a deliberate, bipartisan act, not a solo executive choice. In practice, this reinforces the idea that America’s global commitments are not just the president’s to discard.

While debates over NATO’s relevance continue, the 2024 NDAA signals a clear intent: the U.S. intends to remain anchored in its transatlantic alliances, and leaving NATO will require broad political consensus—not just one person’s decision.