Former US President Donald Trump sparked controversy with his remarks suggesting a conditional approach to NATO’s collective defense, based on member countries’ defense spending.
Former US President Donald Trump indicated that he would support Russia in taking any action they wished against NATO member countries that do not meet defense spending guidelines.
This surprising declaration suggests that he would not uphold the collective defense principle, which is fundamental to the alliance, if he were to be reelected.
During a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump claimed that NATO was in disarray until his tenure. He recounted a conversation with a president of a major country, who asked if the US would still defend them against a Russian invasion if they did not meet their financial obligations. Trump’s response was a resounding no, and he even suggested that he would encourage Russia to take any action they desired.
The White House responded to Trump’s comments, describing them as “appalling and unhinged”. They praised President Joe Biden’s efforts to strengthen the alliance, emphasizing that the primary duty of a commander in chief is to ensure the safety of the American people and uphold the values that bind them. They criticized Trump’s encouragement of invasions by hostile regimes, stating that it jeopardizes American national security, global stability, and the domestic economy.
The essence of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization is the commitment to collective defense, meaning an attack on one member nation is considered an attack on all. Trump has frequently voiced his dissatisfaction with the defense spending of other NATO countries compared to the United States and has repeatedly threatened to withdraw the US from NATO. His recent comments are the clearest indication yet that he does not plan to defend NATO allies from a Russian attack if he wins another term.
Trump has consistently misrepresented how NATO funding operates. While NATO does set a target for each member country to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense, this figure is a guideline rather than a binding contract, and it does not result in “bills”. Member countries are not defaulting on their contributions to NATO’s common budget.
During his presidency, Trump privately threatened on multiple occasions to withdraw the United States from NATO, as reported by The New York Times. He has described NATO as “obsolete” and has shown alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who seeks to weaken the alliance. Trump has frequently praised Putin and even sided with him over the US intelligence community regarding Russia’s interference in the 2016 presidential election.
