Military alliances matter. As a 21-year Army Special Forces veteran, I benefited in Iraq and Afghanistan from America’s alliances. I agree that NATO needs reforms, but I do not agree with President Donald Trump undermining NATO and emboldening Russia. Therefore, I’m concerned that, under the guise of peace in Ukraine, Trump is hurting U.S. national security by driving our allies away. If you are also concerned, please, relay those concerns to your U.S. representative and senators.

Over five deployments, I hunted terrorists with British and Danish commandos. I flew on Polish and British helicopters. I was on bases secured by Australian, Polish, Italian, Spanish, and Belgian forces. I participated in missions where allies bravely faced enormous risks. Outside of the combat zones, I collaborated with allies on training events and national defense planning.

These were quality militaries that met Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s stated goals of deterrence and lethality. Any strong alliance deters an enemy, and the allies I worked alongside made America more lethal because they had unique capabilities, provided America with global access, and adopted American methods of planning and operating. If NATO is already meeting Hegseth’s goals of deterrence and lethality, why is Trump weakening NATO?

NATO is our most important alliance. I agree with Trump that NATO members should meet their gross-domestic-product defense-funding obligations. I disagree with his approach to Ukraine that is marginalizing NATO and emboldening Russia.

I’m appalled Trump and Hegseth betrayed NATO’s trust by conceding to Russia negotiating points for peace and security in Ukraine. I’m appalled Trump betrayed the trust of NATO by regurgitating Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s lies about Ukraine starting the war and Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky being unelected.

I’m appalled Vice President JD Vance and Hegseth weakened NATO and assisted Russia at separate European security conferences. Vance claimed Romania (a NATO ally) impeded democracy by postponing an election due to foreign (probably Russian) meddling. Vance undercut Romania and emboldened Russia to meddle more in European elections because Vance made clear America will twist efforts to protect elections into attacks on democracy.

Hegseth played to Trump’s American audience when, at a different security conference, he cited the U.S.-Mexico border as a reason America must reduce its support to Ukraine and NATO. Hegseth should not advertise that America is so weak it cannot simultaneously secure its border and support its allies against Russia. Or … is Hegseth pandering for sound bites that Trump fans will gobble up?

At both conferences, Vance and Hegseth undermined NATO’s trust in America and emboldened Russia.

Sadly, Trump is forgetting that NATO had two huge and positive impacts on America’s security during his lifetime. First, NATO defeated the Soviet Union, the stronger predecessor to modern Russia. For about 40 years after World War II, American presidents collaborated with NATO until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. Trump, however, will be the loser who gives Russia a win against NATO. Second, the only time NATO rallied for collective defense was after the Sept. 11 attack on the United States. Every NATO member agreed that the 9-11 attack was an attack on the alliance, so every NATO member assisted America in Afghanistan.

As with the above, alliances matter at the global strategic level, but alliances also matter at the soldier tactical level.

I felt the real strength of an alliance when an ally assumed enormous risk to assist my Special Forces unit in combat. An allied Infantry Battalion (an approximately 200-soldier force) was on my base. Its role as directed by its national government was limited to civilian infrastructure projects. It was not permitted to conduct offensive operations. However, the commander violated his nation’s instructions and ordered his Battalion to hold several bridges that my unit had to cross after raiding an enemy compound. This commander exposed his unit to danger, and he risked his career. This level of commitment did not happen spontaneously. There was a relationship built on trust. Years of this ally working with U.S. Special Forces established America’s reputation and reliability with this commander, so he was willing to put his unit at risk to protect American soldiers.

NATO is not perfect, but it has a proven record of bolstering U.S. national security. Russia has a record of violating treaties, cease-fires, and agreements and invading its neighbors. In Iraq and Afghanistan, I benefited from the commitment and bravery of allies, and at other points in my career, I worked alongside capable allies who embraced deterrence but were ready to increase American lethality in war.

If you appreciate our military allies and are concerned Trump is imperiling U.S. national security by weakening our alliances (particularly NATO), then communicate your concern to your politicians.

Vince Kaster is a retired U.S. Army Special Forces officer who served from 2000 to 2021. He lives in the Greater Cleveland area.

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