The White House dismissed as “terrible and reckless” former US President Donald Trump’s announcement that he may not protect NATO allies from a potential Russian invasion.
Trump, recounting a meeting with NATO leaders during a political rally in South Carolina, quoted the president of a “big country”, whom he did not name, who asked him: “Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we get attacked again by Russia – will you protect us?”.
“I said: You didn’t pay? You missed it? He said, ‘Yeah, let’s say that happens’. No, I wouldn’t protect you. I would actually encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay,” Trump said.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates, when asked about Trump’s words, said that “encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and reckless and threatens America’s national security, global stability and our economy.”
The North Atlantic Treaty contains a provision guaranteeing the mutual defense of member states in the event of an attack.
Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, was a fierce critic of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization during his time as president, repeatedly threatening to withdraw from the alliance. He cut NATO funding and often complained that the US was paying more than its fair share.
Bates said President Joe Biden, a Democrat seeking re-election in November’s presidential election, has renewed the US alliance after taking office in 2021, ensuring that NATO is now “bigger and more vital than it has ever been”.
“Instead of calling for wars and promoting chaos, President Biden will continue to strengthen American leadership and advocate for our national security interests, not against them,” he said in a statement released Saturday night.
With Trump leading Biden in some polls, European allies worry that a Trump victory in November could threaten US commitment to the alliance, but NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last month that he did not think a second Trump presidency would threaten membership. Now.
Stoltenberg, who is pushing member states to increase defense spending, said European allies are increasing military contributions and “moving in the right direction.”
Trump continues to attack the transatlantic alliance, saying at a campaign rally last month that he did not believe NATO countries would support the US if attacked.
As for Russia’s war in Ukraine, Trump has called for de-escalation and complains about the billions spent so far, although he has put forward several policy proposals.
Since Moscow’s February 2022 invasion, US aid to Ukraine has totaled about $75 billion, Stoltenberg said, while other NATO members and partner countries have collectively provided more than $100 billion.
