CORRECTS DATE – U.S. President Donald Trump addresses a news conference after a summit of heads of state and government at NATO headquarters in Brussels on Thursday, July 12, 2018. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Former President Donald Trump over the weekend amplified his long-standing criticisms of NATO, drawing rebukes from international leaders but incorrectly characterizing defense funding for the 31-member military alliance.
Speaking at a rally on Saturday in South Carolina, Trump recalled what he said was a conversation with the “president of a big country,” whom he did not name. He said he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” with a NATO member country who did not meet its defense spending guidelines.
“Well sir, if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?” Trump quoted the leader as saying.
“I said: ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’ He said: ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay,” Trump said.
How Did Trump Mischaracterize NATO Defense Funding?
Trump’s description of a country being “delinquent” is not accurate.
Member states contribute to some budget requirements from NATO to help run the organization, but Trump was referring to a commitment by member countries to spend at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. NATO itself calls this threshold a “guideline” – not a requirement. But as The Associated Press notes, countries aren’t in debt to the organization.
The former president’s comments also are tangentially related to Article 5 of NATO’s founding treaty, which states that an attack on one NATO country is considered an attack on all its allies. That stance is not tied in any way to the 2% defense spending target.
Which Countries Meet NATO’s 2% Defense Spending Goal?
Most of NATO’s member nations do not meet the 2% spending goal for defense, including Germany, France and Norway. According to NATO estimates from July 2023, 11 members were expected to meet the target last year. They were:
How Did Leaders and Lawmakers React to Trump’s Recent NATO Comments?
Trump has long been critical of NATO. But his recent comments come at a time of high international tension considering Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine, and the former president has often been accused of close ties with Russia.
The comments’ implications also could be dangerous, according to Kathleen McInnis of the nonprofit Center for Strategic and International Studies.
“It’s hard to overstate how dangerous the world would be if we get to this place where the United States is abrogating its alliance commitments,” McInnis told NPR. “Candidate Trump is talking a lot about how NATO’s allies aren’t paying their fair share. But it’s not as if the United States doesn’t get a lot of strategic benefits out of its participation in NATO. We wouldn’t have the position of global leadership that we do if it wasn’t for our NATO allies and our commitment to European security.”
NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said comments like Trump’s put soldiers from countries like the U.S. at risk.
“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” Stoltenberg said.
“I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election the US will remain a strong and committed NATO Ally,” he added.
U.S. President Joe Biden called Trump’s remarks “appalling and dangerous,” while former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley – who is competing with Trump for the Republican presidential nomination – told CBS on Sunday that “the last thing we ever want to do is side with Russia.”
U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky reportedly called Trump’s comments a “stupid thing to say,” while other members of the GOP avoided harsh criticism of the party’s current standard-bearer.
“I have zero concern because he’s been president before,” Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida told CNN. “I know exactly what he has done and will do with the NATO alliance. But there has to be an alliance. It’s not ‘America’s defense,’ with a bunch of small junior partners.”
“All I can say is while Trump was president nobody invaded anybody,” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told The New York Times. “I think the point here is to, in his way, to get people to pay.”
Russia, meanwhile, declined to address Trump’s comments, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reportedly saying that he is “Putin’s press secretary, but not Trump’s.”
Copyright 2024 U.S. News & World Report
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