Donald Trump’s Russia comments put US soldiers at ‘increased risk’
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The head of Nato accused Donald Trump of putting American troops in danger after he encouraged Russia to attack alliance members that fail to meet defence spending targets.
Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Mr Trump recounted a story he has told before about an unidentified Nato leader who confronted him over his threat not to defend members who fail to meet the trans-Atlantic alliance’s defence spending targets.
But this time, Mr Trump went further, saying had told the member that he would, in fact, “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes in that case.
“‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Mr Trump recounted saying. “‘No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”
Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, on Sunday warned against talk that “puts American and European soldiers at increased risk”.
“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US,” Mr Stoltenberg said in a statement.
Nato “remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response.”
Andrew Bates, the White House spokesperson, said: “Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home.”
Mr Trump’s rival for the Republican presidential nomination, Nikki Haley, said: “What bothers me about this is, don’t take the side of a thug, who kills his opponents.
“Don’t take the side of someone who has gone in and invaded a country and half a million people have died or been wounded because of Putin. Don’t take the side of someone who continues to lie.”
The German government did not officially comment on Mr Trump’s remarks, but its foreign office pointed out Nato’s solidarity principle in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
“‘One for all and all for one.’ This NATO creed keeps more than 950 million people safe,” it said.
European Council President Charles Michel denounced the comments as “reckless”, saying they can “serve only Putin’s interest.”
Republican Senator Marco Rubio, who has endorsed Trump for his party’s nomination, defended the ex-president on Sunday as “telling a story” about something that happened in the past.
“He doesn’t talk like a traditional politician,” the Florida senator told CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“By the way, Donald Trump was president and he didn’t pull us out of Nato. In fact, American troops were stationed throughout Nato” during his term, Mr Rubio said.
Mr Trump’s rival for the nomination, Nikki Haley, said: “What bothers me about this is, don’t take the side of a thug, who kills his opponents.
“Don’t take the side of someone who has gone in and invaded a country and half a million people have died or been wounded because of Putin. Don’t take the side of someone who continues to lie.”
Nato allies agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula, to halt the spending cuts member countries had made after the Cold War and move towards spending 2 per cent of their GDP on defence by 2024.
As of 2022, Nato reported that seven of the now 31 Nato member countries were meeting that obligation — up from three in 2014. Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine spurred additional military spending by some Nato members.
Mr Trump’s comments come as Ukrainian troops fighting the Russian invasion struggle with an ammunition shortage largely caused by Republicans in Congress blocking a military aid package.
Ukrainian, European and British officials have voiced increasing frustration with the delay, warning that it could have a critical impact on the war.
Mr Trump and his team are increasingly confident he will lock up the Republican nomination following a string of commanding victories in the first primaries.
On Saturday, Mr Trump called for the end of foreign aid “Without ‘strings’ attached”, arguing that the US should dramatically curtail the way it provides money.
He wrote on social media: “From this point forward, are you listening to us Senate? No money in the form of foreign aid should be given to any country unless it is done as a loan, not just a giveaway.”
