While much of the country has positive views of the United States’ inclusion in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the multinational alliance formed in the aftermath of World War II, a sharp partisan divide has emerged over the benefits of continued membership. A majority of Republicans has soured on the alliance, driven by President Donald Trump’s combative view of the organization and an increasing desire to go it alone on the world stage.
NATO membership may seem abstract to many Americans, but not so in Hampton Roads, which is home to the alliance’s operations in North America. Here, we still celebrate our international partners, never more so than during the Norfolk NATO Festival which begins today/Thursday and offers our region the opportunity to show continued support of our international partners.
As Europe sifted through the rubble in 1945 following Germany’s defeat, the question of how to best keep the peace dominated the continent. The Soviet Union served a crucial role in the allied victory, but its undemocratic worldview ran counter to that of nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, France and others.
A Soviet blockade of Berlin showed the emergence of a bipolar world, prompting the United States, Canada and 10 European nations to seek a defensive alliance as a bulwark against communist expansion. So in 1949, they signed the treaty creating NATO to protect their mutual interests.
The partnership has been called the most successful alliance among democratic nations in history, and with good reason. Not only did it help protect western Europe from Soviet domination, it led to the collapse of the Soviet system, opening eastern Europe to the sort of freedom and democratic governance people could only dream of under the yoke of communism.
As a defensive alliance, the treaty’s most important section comes from Article V, which says that an attack against one member-country is an attack on NATO as a whole. It has only been invoked one time, in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, and saw our allies rush to our aid in our time of need.
While NATO has been of unquestionable benefit to the United States, the president believes otherwise. He spent much of his first term in office criticizing the alliance as overly reliant on American defense spending and has increased the volume since returning to the White House.
After launching his war of choice in Iran, Trump lambasted NATO for not helping, though members are under no obligation to do so, and has publicly mused about withdrawing from the organization, though it would require congressional approval.
Trump’s arguments have affected public opinion. Recent polling by the Pew Research Center found that while 59% of Americans still believe the nation benefits from NATO membership, “a majority of Republicans (60%) now say the U.S. benefits not too much or not at all from being part of the alliance, up from 50% in 2025.”
All of this means this year’s Norfolk NATO Festival comes at a fraught moment in the alliance’s history. And it gives area residents an opportunity to affirm our continued support for NATO and the organization’s operations in our community.
That begins tonight/Thursday at 5 p.m. with the flag raising at Scope Arena and continues Saturday with the 73rd Parade of Nations through downtown Norfolk at noon, with an international village to follow at Town Point Park. The always incredible Virginia international Tattoo will also feature “fife and drum corps, bagpipers, military bands, precision drill teams, and performing ensembles” from a host of nations, though performances (Thursday through Sunday) require tickets to attend. Learn more at vafest.org/norfolk-nato-festival/
Few places know the value and importance of the NATO alliance better than Hampton Roads. Now the region can show its support and bolster morale as we look to a future made stronger with our international partners.