The USA cannot be expelled from NATO under the treaty, but there have been discussions and proposed legislation for the U.S. to
withdraw, driven by concerns from some American politicians that NATO is outdated, costly, and involves the U.S. too deeply in European conflicts, with recent actions focusing on forcing European allies to increase defense spending. While no credible evidence suggests NATO officials threatened to expel the U.S., there are reports of European countries planning contingency measures should the U.S. leave, as a U.S. departure would fundamentally alter the alliance.