> Are you really trying to say that Trump, and not Putin, is the primary reason for this? Sure. The NATO of old was facing off against much stronger opposition

> Are you really trying to say that Trump, and not Putin, is the primary reason for this? Sure. The NATO of old was facing off against much stronger opposition than Putin today, without even the slightest trace of doubt in commitment coming up. Trump is certainly not the only factor that erodes trust in NATO deterrence (Brexit, Erdogan and NATO overexpansion are other important contributors to the general uneasiness), but he is the most visible one. Visible cracks are bad because there will always be people (on all sides!) who see personal incentive to widen them and if they succeed, the mere thought that limited scope wars could be possible will endanger peace.