(Miami) Former leader Donald Trump, US presidential candidate, assured that his recent threats against NATO were above all a “way of negotiating” with the Alliance countries, during an exchange broadcast on Tuesday .
The Republican billionaire sowed panic in Europe when he threatened in February to no longer guarantee the protection of NATO countries against Russia if they did not pay their share.
Comments strongly criticized by several European leaders and his Democratic rival, American President Joe Biden.
“It’s a way of negotiating,” said the tempestuous septuagenarian during a tête-à-tête with Nigel Farage, a figure of the British far right.
“The United States must pay its share, not everyone’s share,” said the ex-businessman, on GB News.
Donald Trump also boasted of having replenished NATO’s coffers thanks to his remarks.
“They started paying because of these comments you saw two or three weeks ago,” he said, without giving an example.
The Republican, who will face Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s election, regularly criticizes North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies for failing to meet their commitments on military spending.
“Don’t forget that all this is more important for them than for us, we have an ocean that separates us from certain problems,” he stressed on Tuesday. “A big, beautiful ocean. »