Donald Trump adviser Sebastian Gorka has emphasised Nato's founding principles amid calls for increased defence spending from alliance members.
Speaking to GB News, Gorka highlighted the simplicity of the 1949 Washington Treaty, noting it contains just 14 paragraphs yet "has stood the test of time".
He outlined two key conditions for Nato membership: Being a representative democracy and making "tangible contributions" to collective defence.
Sebastian Gorka told GB News: "It says any nation of the Eurasian landmass. It's not even specific with regards to geography. It can be part of this voluntary collective defence alliance, but based upon two conditions.
Sebastian Gorka has emphasised NATO's founding principles
GB News
"Number one, they're a representative democracy, that the political culture is one that is aligned with the West.
"Secondly, they have to make a collective. They have to make a tangible contribution to the collective defence of the alliance.
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"This is why the president, when he came in eight years ago, said no more free loaders, no more people who are just riding on the largesse of the United States.
"We went from less than a third of NATO nations meeting that target force goals that 2 per cent of GDP to by the end of the first Trump administration, more than two thirds of NATO nations actually paying their dues.
"So, look, let's just look at the facts. You want to be a member of NATO? Are you a functioning representative democracy?
"Can you make a tangible contribution to the collective defence? I think those values stand today as they did in 1949."
Trump revealed plans to start peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Getty ImagesHis comments came a day after Trump revealed plans to start peace talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The Pentagon chief said Washington remained committed to the alliance but European partners needed to do more for Nato to "endure".
"Our partners must do far more for Europe's defence," US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters after talks in Brussels.
The former Fox TV contributor and military veteran emphasised that "there is no replacement for hard power."
European leaders have expressed concerns about being excluded from the peace negotiations between Trump and Putin.
When asked if any European countries would be involved in the talks, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said: "I don't have any European nations who are involved currently to read out for you."
German defence minister Boris Pistorius said it would have been better if the US had not given concessions before negotiations started.
"The next task is to ensure that there is no dictated peace," German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told Politico.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it was "not very pleasant" that Trump spoke to Putin first, though Trump had told him he "wanted to talk to two presidents at the same time".
