The words of Donald Trump, who threatened in the event of re-election in the United States to no longer defend NATO countries in arrears, are “reckless”, declared Sunday the President of the European Council Charles Michel.
• Read also: Trump would ‘encourage’ Russia to attack deadbeat NATO countries
• Read also: Trump promises massive ‘deportation operation’ of migrants if he wins
“The Transatlantic Alliance has supported the security and prosperity of Americans, Canadians and Europeans for 75 years,” said Mr. Michel on 5 only serve Putin’s interests” and “bring neither more security nor more peace in the world,” he added.
“On the contrary, they once again underline the need for the EU to urgently develop its strategic autonomy and invest in its defence,” he continued.
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.
Donald Trump threatened on Saturday, if re-elected in the United States, to no longer defend NATO countries in arrears, even going so far as to “encourage” Russia to attack them.
The former American president regularly criticizes his allies in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for not sufficiently funding the institution. During a meeting in South Carolina, Mr. Trump reported a conversation with one of the NATO heads of state, without naming him.
This statement comes after Mr. Trump, likely candidate against Democratic President Joe Biden in the November elections, put pressure on Republican elected officials in Congress to bury a bill providing for the payment of new aid to Ukraine .
The White House reacted strongly to the former president’s comments. “Encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and senseless,” said its spokesperson Andrew Bates on Saturday evening.