NATO has condemned Donald Trump’s remarks at a campaign rally, alleging that they “put American and European soldiers at increased risk,” in his statement that he would let Russia “do whatever the hell they want” to alliance members that do not pay enough for defense.
At a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump mentioned a discussion with an anonymous “big country” that inquired if they would be safe if Russia attacked them.
“You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’ No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want,” he told the crowd.
Joe Biden also called his Republican opponent’s remarks “appalling and dangerous.”
Biden, who has been in the news due to a story that questioned his memory, said Trump was confessing to handing Putin “a green light for more war and violence” in Ukraine and spreading “his aggression” into Poland and the Baltic States.
He emphasized that backing U.S. friends was “critical to keeping the American people safe here at home.”
In response, NATO stated, “NATO remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be countered with a coordinated and powerful reaction.”
Stoltenberg provided a statement on Sunday indicating that the alliance is “ready and able” to defend its members and that any assault “will be met with a united and forceful response.”
Nikki Haley, Trump’s last surviving Republican nomination competitor, advised against siding with Russia and Putin, whom she branded as a “thug who kills his opponents.”
On February 11, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz stated on the social networking platform “X” that “NATO’s motto–“One for all, all for one”–is a concrete commitment. He added, “Undermining the confidence of friendly countries weakens the whole North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
The German Foreign Ministry tweeted, “One for all and all for one.” This NATO creed keeps more than 950 million people safe — from Anchorage to Erzurum.”
EU Council President Charles Michel described Trump’s remarks as “reckless” and stated that such attacks on NATO’s security and solidarity “serve only Putin’s interest.”
According to NATO’s own numbers for 2023 expenditure, 19 of its 30 member states, including Germany, Norway, and France, are spending less than the aim of 2% of their yearly GDP on defense.
However, most nations that border Ukraine, Russia, or its neighbor and ally Belarus surpass this criterion.
Poland spends more than the United States, accounting for over 3.9% of its yearly GDP. Romania, Hungary, Finland, and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have defense expenditures ranging from 2.3 to 2.7%.