Western Allies Condemn Trump For Suggesting No NATO Defense

Former US President Donald Trump received criticism from top Western officials on Sunday following his suggestion that the United States might not defend NATO allies failing to meet defense spending targets in the event of a potential Russian invasion.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg expressed his concern, stating, “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.” He added that any attack on NATO would be met with a united and forceful response.

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Polish Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also condemned Trump’s remarks, emphasizing NATO’s commitment with the motto ‘one for all, all for one.’ He warned against undermining the credibility of allied countries, stating that it weakens the entire NATO alliance. He further emphasized that no election campaign justifies playing with the security of the alliance.

‘One for all and all for one.’ This #NATO creed keeps more than 950 million people safe – from Anchorage to Erzurum. #StrongerTogether

— GermanForeignOffice (@GermanyDiplo) February 11, 2024

The German foreign ministry, in response to Trump’s comments, posted the message ‘One for all and all for one’ with the hashtag #StrongerTogether on its English-language social media platform. European Union Council President Charles Michel criticized Trump’s “reckless statements” on NATO’s security and Article 5 solidarity, suggesting that they serve only Russian President Vladimir Putin’s interests.

Article 5 of the NATO treaty declares that an armed attack against any alliance member is considered an attack against all, triggering collective self-defense.

BREAKING: The NATO Secretary General says any attack will be met with "forceful response" after Donald Trump said he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” if it attacked a NATO country that didn’t pay enough for defencehttps://t.co/PAiZ4D1jU3

📺 Sky 501 pic.twitter.com/2PANYPpFYA

— Sky News (@SkyNews) February 11, 2024

During a political rally in South Carolina, Trump recounted a meeting with NATO leaders, quoting the president of an unnamed “big country” asking if the US would protect them if they were attacked by Russia and hadn’t met their financial obligations. Trump responded, “No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay.”

The critical responses from NATO officials and European leaders reflect the concern over the potential consequences of undermining the principle of collective defense within the alliance. Trump’s statements on NATO have drawn widespread condemnation for potentially weakening the unity and credibility of the alliance.