(Washington) Donald Trump threatened on Saturday, if he returned to the White House, to no longer guarantee the protection of NATO countries against Russia if they did not pay their share, even saying that he would “encourage” Moscow to attack them.
At a rally in South Carolina, Donald Trump reported a conversation he had with one of the NATO heads of state, without naming him.
“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said: well, sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us? “, says the former Republican president before revealing his answer: “No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay your bills.”
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Donald Trump, who will likely face Joe Biden in the November presidential election, regularly criticizes the North Atlantic Treaty Organization allies for not keeping their commitments on military spending. During the campaign, he had already threatened several times to leave NATO if he returned to the White House.
“Reckless statements”
His comments on Saturday caused outrage and dismay in Europe and within the organization.
For the President of the European Council Charles Michel, “reckless declarations on NATO security and the solidarity of Article 5 only serve Putin’s interests” and “bring neither more security nor more peace in the world “.
Article 5 states that if a NATO country is the victim of an armed attack, each member of the Alliance will treat this act of violence as an armed attack directed against all members and will take such measures as it can. deemed necessary to come to the aid of the attacked country.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned against comments that “undermine our security”.
PHOTO VIRGINIA MAYO, ASSOCIATED PRESS
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg
“Any suggestion that Allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the United States, and places American and European soldiers at increased risk,” he said.
The White House responded on Saturday to Donald Trump’s statements by praising the efforts made by Joe Biden to strengthen alliances around the world.
“Encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and senseless,” responded Andrew Bates, a White House spokesperson, on Saturday evening.
“Rather than calling for war and promoting chaos, President Biden will continue to support American leadership,” added Andrew Bates.
” A story ”
Donald Trump’s last rival in the Republican primaries, Nikki Haley, denounced the ex-president’s rhetoric.
PHOTO ELIJAH NEWS, REUTERS
Nikki Haley
“Let’s not take the side of a bully who kills his opponents,” she said, referring to Vladimir Putin.
“We want NATO allies to pay their share, but there are ways to get that without […] tell Russia: “do what you want with these countries,” she added.
Republican Senator Marco Rubio, for his part, tried to minimize Donald Trump’s statements.
The elected official from Florida thus affirmed on Sunday that the ex-president had only “told a story”, because “he does not speak like a traditional politician”.
“I have no concerns,” he added about the future of the Alliance in the event of Donald Trump’s victory in the presidential election.
The ex-president, who maintains a significant hold on the Republican Party, has put pressure in recent weeks on elected officials from his camp in Congress to bury a bill providing for the payment of new aid to the Ukraine, but also Israel and Taiwan, as well as a reform of migration policy.
Amounting to $95 billion, the bill will be debated next week.
The majority of these funds would go to Ukraine to replenish its stocks of ammunition, weapons and other essential needs as the country enters a third year of war.
Donald Trump has often been hostile to continued American aid to Ukraine.