Trump criticized for encouraging Russian attack on NATO members
Former President Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed harsh criticism of NATO and the countries that do not meet the defense alliance’s goal of allocating two percent of GDP to defense.
At a meeting in North Carolina yesterday, Trump claimed that a president of ”a major country” asked him if the US would come to their aid in the event of a Russian attack, according to publications like Politico.
”No, I would not have defended you,” Trump said he replied, adding:
”In fact, I would have encouraged them to do whatever the hell they want. You have to pay.”
Poland: Playing with our security
The White House quickly condemned Trump’s statement.
”Encouraging murderous regimes to invade our closest allies is abhorrent, deranged, and puts the national security of the United States, global stability, and our economy at risk,” said White House spokesperson Andrew Bates in a press release.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also reacted.
”NATO is ready to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and powerful response. I assume that the United States, regardless of who wins the presidential election, will remain a strong and dedicated NATO ally,” he told several Norwegian media outlets.
According to Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, Trump undermines both NATO’s credibility and strength.
”No election campaign is an excuse to play with the alliance’s security,” he wrote on Twitter.
