Western Officials Criticize Trump's NATO Comments
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Western Officials Criticize Trump's NATO Comments |
- PARIS, Feb 11 - Former President Donald Trump drew criticism from top western officials on Sunday over his suggestion that the U.S. might not defend NATO allies who fail to meet defense spending targets against a potential Russian invasion.
- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg issued a written statement, expressing concern that any suggestion of allies not defending each other would undermine security and put soldiers at greater risk, including those from the U.S.
- Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz commented on social media, highlighting the commitment of NATO's motto, "one for all, all for one," and pointing out that undermining the credibility of allied countries weakens the entire alliance.
- Germany's foreign ministry shared a message of solidarity on social media, emphasizing unity with the hashtags #StrongerTogether and "One for all and all for one," following Trump's remarks.
- EU Council President Charles Michel criticized Trump's statements, emphasizing that reckless comments about NATO's security and Article 5 solidarity benefit Russian President Vladimir Putin.
- Article 5 of the NATO treaty stipulates that an attack on one member will be considered an attack on all, triggering collective self-defense.
- Speaking at a political rally in South Carolina, Trump quoted the unidentified president of a "big country" asking if the U.S. would protect them in the event of a Russian attack, considering their failure to fulfill financial obligations. Trump responded by indicating that he would not protect them and even encouraged Russia to act as they wished.
- EU Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton dismissed Trump's comments as nothing new and mentioned a conversation between Trump and European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen in 2020. Breton emphasized that the security of the alliance should not be subjected to election cycles.
- White House spokesperson Andrew Bates responded to Trump's remarks, condemning the encouragement of invasions by murderous regimes as appalling, unhinged, and detrimental to American national security, global stability, and the domestic economy.
- While NATO's 31 members have agreed to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense, only 11 countries are currently meeting this target according to NATO estimates.
- Reported by Tassilo Hummel, Victoria Waldersee, Sabine Siebold, and Foo Yun Chee; Additional reporting by Anna Wlodarczak-Semczuk; Editing by Frances Kerry and Giles Elgood
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