France pours cold water on Trump’s NATO Brazil musings
On 20 March 2019 France appeared to nix US President Donald Trump’s suggestion that Brazil could become a NATO member while opening the door to making the South American country one of the alliance’s ‘global partners.’
In a statement, the foreign ministry noted that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s charters define a ‘specific geographical scope of application.’ Article 10, for example, specifies that any ‘European state’ can apply for membership in the collective defence alliance, which requires members to come to the aid of any other in case of attack.
Trump raised eyebrows on 19 March when he suggested Brazil could become a NATO member after meeting the country’s populist President Jair Bolsonaro in Washington. ‘I... intend to designate Brazil as a major non-NATO ally or even possibly, if you start thinking about it, maybe a NATO ally,’ Trump said, before admitting that he would ‘have to talk to a lot of people.’
Any change of the NATO charter to allow non-European members would require the approval of all 29 current member states. At the same time, Brazil could become a NATO ‘global partner’, which means their forces can take part in alliance missions and operations, though currently there are no discussions underway on this.
‘NATO can establish a dialogue and concrete cooperation with partners, as it has already done with nearly 40 non-member nations and international organisations, including in Latin America,’ the French foreign ministry said.
Last year, Colombia became the first NATO global partner in Latin America.
Trump has been unstinting in his criticism of NATO’s European members, accusing them of freeloading on the protection offered by the US military while not spending enough on their own armed forces.
Before taking office Trump called NATO ‘obsolete’ and soon after a NATO summit last July summit he questioned whether the US would honour the alliance’s founding principle of mutual defence for newest member Montenegro.
More from Defence Notes
-
![Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain]()
Orchestrating operational readiness across every defence domain
Are all systems ready for the next mission? Have upgrades been applied? Are all assets aligned to deploy together, on time and fully prepared? In modern defence operations, readiness is no longer measured platform by platform. It is measured by how well people, assets, data and decisions move together — across land, sea and air.
-
![How deepening AI usage can boost efficiency and maximise effects for forces]()
How deepening AI usage can boost efficiency and maximise effects for forces
Saab has outlined how it is using artificial intelligence to make training more like electronic gaming, while the UK’s Power Size Technologies is applying the same technology to better evaluate and design vehicle capability, moving AI-enabled innovation further upstream from the frontline.
-
![From systems integrator to multi-domain solutions provider (video)]()
From systems integrator to multi-domain solutions provider (video)
Philipp von Brandenstein, Head of Corporate Communications at Rheinmetall, explains how Eurosatory 2026 marked a new stage in the company's evolution.
-
![US Pentagon pushes for major reform of defence acquisition system]()
US Pentagon pushes for major reform of defence acquisition system
The US Department of Defense has requested new contracting authorities from Congress, using the Army's MV-75 Cheyenne programme to demonstrate how competition, digital engineering and closer industry collaboration could accelerate acquisitions.
-
![US speeds up B61-13 nuclear bomb production as programme moves further ahead of schedule]()
US speeds up B61-13 nuclear bomb production as programme moves further ahead of schedule
The US government plans to accelerate production even further after achieving key B61-13 milestones months ahead of schedule, as the programme advances amid growing US-China strategic competition.
