Trump's comments on Russia and NATO / The White House: They are terrible

2024-02-11 09:48:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Trump's comments on Russia and NATO / The White House: They are terrible

Former American president, Donald Trump

The White House has rejected comments made by former US President Donald Trump about not protecting NATO allies from a potential invasion by Russia, and has described them as "terrible and out of line".

Trump, recalling a meeting with NATO leaders, during a political march in South Carolina, quoted the president of a "big state", which he did not mention by name, asking him, "Sir, If we don't pay, and we are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?"

"I told him: 'You didn't pay? Are you delinquent?' He said: 'Yes, that's what happened.' No, I will not protect you. I would actually encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay".

White House spokesman Andrew Bates, asked about Trump's comments, said that "encouraging the invasion of our close allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unconscionable - it endangers American national security, global stability and the economy in our house".

The NATO treaty has a point that guarantees common defense for a member country, in case it is attacked.

Trump, who is leading the race to win the Republican presidential nomination, has been a fierce critic of NATO as long as he has been president, and has repeatedly threatened to withdraw the US from the alliance.

He has reduced US funding for NATO, and has often complained that his country is paying more.

Bates said US President Joe Biden, a Democrat who is aiming for another term in the November election, has reshuffled US alliances since taking office in 2021, making sure NATO is "more bigger and more alive than ever before".

"Instead of calling for wars and promoting chaos, President Biden will continue to strengthen American leadership and be there for national security interests - not against them," he said in a statement.

With Trump ahead of Biden in some polls, European allies worry that a Trump victory in November could damage American commitment to the alliance, even as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last month that never think that the presidency of the Body could endanger the membership of the USA.

Stoltenberg, who has pushed member countries to allocate more defense funds, said European allies are increasing military contributions and moving in the right direction.

Trump, on the other hand, has continued to criticize the alliance, saying at a rally with supporters last month that he does not believe NATO countries would support the US if it were attacked.

As for Russia's war in Ukraine, Trump has called for an extension and complained about the billions spent so far.

Since the start of the war, in February 2022, the US has allocated about 75 billion dollars to Ukraine, Stoltenberg said, while other NATO countries and partner countries have allocated over 100 billion dollars, together. REL