As President Trump threatens to withdraw the United States from NATO, World War II veterans who witnessed the alliance's formation are speaking out. At 102, Gloria Harnett Kerzner recalls how leaders like Eleanor Roosevelt and Harry Truman promoted the idea of a united front against war. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, established after World War II, has become a symbol of collective security among its 32 allied nations.

Kerzner and other veterans, including Eugene Richardson of the Tuskegee Airmen, express concern over Trump's stance that NATO does little for the United States despite relying on it for funding and security. While some veterans suggest the partnership could be revamped for modern times, most agree that the United States and Europe are stronger when working together. The alliance's Article 5, which states that if one nation is attacked, the others will come to its aid, has only been invoked once after the September 11, 2001 attacks.

Trump's latest criticism focuses on member countries reluctant to aid the United States in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, where one-fifth of the world's oil is transported. Despite frustrations, veterans like 107-year-old Joe Pietroforte maintain trust in the country's leadership. Military historian Robert Citino notes that NATO reflects a shift in American strategy from the isolationism after World War I to active engagement across Europe with bases and command stations.