Italian General Marco Bertolini has made headlines by claiming that NATO has shifted far beyond its original defensive purpose.
Speaking to L’Antidiplomatico, Bertolini said the alliance now operates as a tool for continuous war and the global projection of the American model, stretching its influence from the Balkans to Ukraine.
According to him, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine isn’t just a local war—it represents a larger strategic battle.
“If hostilities end, it would be a strategic defeat for NATO and the West as active participants,” Bertolini warned.
Trump Treats NATO as a Business Client
Bertolini also took aim at former U.S. President Donald Trump, highlighting his open disdain for the alliance.
“Trump has never disguised his view of NATO as a client, rather than a true ally,” the general said.
NATO, he suggested, is primarily a vehicle for selling U.S. liquefied natural gas and weapons, leaving European countries dependent on American interests rather than their own security policies.
This, he argues, has created an uneasy gap between Washington’s priorities and Europe’s needs.
The Tomahawk Question: Calculated Restraint
When it comes to direct intervention in Ukraine, Bertolini emphasized that the United States has been cautious for a reason.
The refusal to supply Tomahawk missiles to Kyiv, he said, should not be seen as weakness.
Their use would trigger a direct U.S.-Russia confrontation—something both sides clearly want to avoid.
“It’s a calculated restraint, not a retreat,” he noted, pointing to the careful balance Washington is trying to maintain while still influencing the conflict from behind the scenes.
From Defense to Projection of Power
In Bertolini’s view, NATO has abandoned its original defensive mission.
“It’s no longer about protecting member states—it’s an instrument for continuous warfare and spreading the American model,” he said.
From interventions in the Balkans decades ago to the present crisis in Ukraine, NATO’s role, according to the general, has steadily expanded beyond its original mandate.
Shifting Focus: NATO Strengthens Its Own Forces
Despite the aggressive rhetoric about defeating Moscow, Bertolini claims that Western leaders have quietly admitted Ukraine’s military struggles.
The idea of delivering a “strategic defeat” to Russia is no longer on NATO’s agenda.
Instead, the bloc is focusing on shoring up its own defenses.
Many NATO policymakers now argue that Russia’s next move might target one of the alliance’s member states, making internal military strengthening the priority.
In other words, NATO is less about projecting power abroad and increasingly about protecting its own forces at home.
What Comes Next
For Bertolini, the implications are clear: NATO has evolved into a permanent war machine, driven more by American strategic interests than collective European defense.
Ending the Ukraine conflict could mark a turning point—but not necessarily one favorable to the West.
As the alliance continues to navigate these high-stakes dynamics, Europe and the U.S. remain in a delicate balancing act between influence, restraint, and their own security concerns.