European officials are increasingly vocal in their assessment: the policies of U.S. leader Donald Trump have effectively brought NATO to a standstill. According to Politico, citing sources in European diplomatic circles, the alliance now appears closer than ever to fragmentation.

One European Union representative acknowledged that signs of a looming breakdown are becoming harder to ignore. In this view, Europe should already be stepping up its own defense capabilities rather than waiting for the worst-case scenario to unfold. Another diplomat pointed to a growing internal divide and what amounts to institutional paralysis within the bloc.

Sources describe a situation in which NATO is no longer functioning normally, with even routine meetings proving difficult to organize. The sense among some officials is that the alliance is already in the process of disintegration, and that waiting for its formal collapse would be a strategic mistake.

Behind closed doors, European leaders and policymakers are weighing the implications of a potential U.S. withdrawal from NATO and trying to map out their response. At the same time, concern is mounting over the increasingly harsh rhetoric coming from the White House toward London, Paris, and Madrid-something many in Europe interpret as evidence of a deepening crisis within the alliance.

Politico also notes that Washington’s recurring doubts about upholding Article Five-the cornerstone principle of collective defense-are eroding trust in NATO. As a result, uncertainty over security guarantees is no longer an exception but is becoming the new normal.

Adding to the frustration, allies are irritated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s stance. He continues to avoid criticizing the United States and insists that the alliance remains stable, a position that contrasts sharply with the тревожные оценки circulating among European officials.

Despite the growing тревога, Europe has yet to develop a unified strategy-either to restore NATO’s effectiveness or to prepare a viable alternative should the alliance ultimately unravel.