Donald Trump declared NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) obsolete. His remarks disturbed NATO's 28 allied nations. Europeans have also become skeptical about future relations between the alliance and the United States under the Trump administration. Then again, should the United States leave or remain a NATO member?

NATO was founded in 1949 with its headquarters located in Brussels. It has been ever since the centerpiece of freedom, democracy and shared values and common interests among member nations. It is a military alliance of which the United States is financially and militarily the largest contributor. It serves as a bridge that links the European Union with the United States and Canada.

“NATO's essential purpose is to safeguard the freedom and security of its members through political and military means. Politically, it promotes democratic values and encourages consultation and cooperation on defense and security issues to build trust and, in the long run, prevent conflict. Militarily, NATO is committed to the peaceful resolution of disputes. If diplomatic efforts fail, it has the military capacity needed to undertake crisis-management operations."

The organization was vital in the era of the cold war and eventual threats by the Soviet Union and rogue nations. Nothing changes today. Russia is still somewhat hostile to the United States; terrorists are wreaking havoc in most parts of the world; secluded North Korea is provocative and belligerent; emerging China and other countries that don't share our democratic principles exemplify the need for NATO to be a unified body under the U.S. leadership.

Trump, since the beginning of his presidential campaign, has been making ridiculous statements about a lot of things. His frequent slogans among many are the renegotiation of NAFTA (North Atlantic Free Trade Agreement); U.S. trade imbalance with China and the obsolescence of NATO. Regardless of the U.S. lush contribution to NATO, it's worth it. It is good for the United States, for member nations and the stability of the world.

NATO soldiers served and died in Afghanistan, Iraq and in the gulf war. In solidarity, allied airplanes patrolled the sky of the United States in the aftermath of 9/11 attack. NATO is here to stay, regardless of troubling remarks made by Trump. Therefore, the United States remains an integral member of the alliance. Now Trump is on the world stage as a U.S. president. He needs to sound meticulously presidential in expressing his thoughts to avoid alienating himself and the United States as a whole. Being both political and politician is an art President Trump needs to learn on the job training.

"As we examine and potentially re-baseline our relationships around the globe, we will keep in mind the sacrifices and deep commitments that many of our allies have made on behalf of our security and our prosperity," Flynn said.