US President Joe Biden and top Western officials on Sunday, the 11th of February, criticised former President Donald Trump after he said that the US would not protect NATO allies that do not spend enough on defence from a possible Russian invasion, reports Reuters.
Biden said in a statement that US support for NATO allies ensures the security of not only the world but also the US, he added that if Trump regains power, it is clear that “in the event of a Russian attack, he will abandon NATO allies and allow Russia to “do whatever the hell they want”.”
At a political rally in South Carolina, Trump recalled a meeting with NATO leaders, quoting the president of an unknown “big country” who asked if the US would protect them if they did not pay up and Russia attacked them.
Trump replied that he would “encourage [Russia] to do whatever the hell they want”
with allies who is behind the alliance’s defence spending goals, .
NATO members have agreed to a target of spending at least 2% of GDP on defence, but according to NATO estimates only 11 countries are currently meeting this target.
Nevertheless, Trump’s comments drew immediate condemnation from NATO and US allies.
In response to Trump’s remarks, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has assured that any attack on NATO would be met with a united response. “Any assumption that allies will not defend each other undermines the security of all of us, including the US, and puts American and European troops at increased risk,” he has said in a written statement.
Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz has stressed that NATO’s motto “one for all, all for one” is a concrete commitment, pointing out that undermining the credibility of allied countries weakens the entire alliance, he wrote on X, adding,
“No election campaign is an excuse to play with the security of the alliance.”
EU Council President Charles Michel has criticised the “reckless statements” on NATO security and Article 5 solidarity, saying they only serve Putin’s interests.
Article 5 of NATO provides for collective defence in the event of an armed attack on any member state, according to Reuters.
EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has pointed out that Trump’s comments are nothing new and, referring to a conversation between Trump and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen in 2020, said: “He may have a memory problem, it was actually a woman, not the President of a country, but the President of the EU.”
Breton also stressed that the EU needs to increase military spending and capacity to provide sustainable security, regardless of US elections.
Some Republicans have also criticised Trump’s remarks,
with former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie describing Trump as unfit for the presidency.
Republican Senator Thom Tillis has blamed Trump’s aides for not explaining to him that the US, as a NATO member, has a duty to defend any member of the alliance.
Meanwhile, despite Trump’s opposition, several Republicans over the weekend supported and advanced a bill for 95 billion dollars in aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
Also read: Europe must prepare to walk alone, if Trump returns
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