U.S. President Donald Trump doubted his willingness to defend Washington’s NATO allies, saying he wouldn’t have done so if they didn’t pay enough for their defense.
“That’s common sense, yes,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “If they don’t pay, I won’t defend them. No, I won’t defend them.”
Trump said he had this view for years and shared it with NATO allies during his 2017-2021 presidency. He said the efforts have prompted other members of the 75-year-old Transatlantic League to spend more, but “even now, that’s not enough.”
He added: “They should give more.”
The mutual aid clause is at the heart of the NATO alliance, the program was established in 1949 with the main purpose of responding to the risks of Soviet attacks on Allied territories.
Trump’s remarks could trigger a wake-up call from Europe to Asia’s capital, and leaders have been worried about withdrawing U.S. security support and show greater willingness to deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Trump clashed with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Earlier Thursday, European leaders supported plans to spend more on defense and promised to continue to do so with Ukraine.
“I know some people may have concerns about the future of NATO,” said NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “So let me be clear that transatlantic relations and transatlantic partnerships remain the cornerstone of our alliance. President Trump has made clear about the commitments of the United States and its commitment to NATO, which also makes it clear that we have to do more in Europe in terms of defense spending.”
Trump said in the Oval Office that NATO members are his friends but questioned whether France or “others” would protect the United States in a time of crisis.
“Do you know the biggest problem I’ve had in NATO? I do, I mean, I know these guys very well. They’re my friends. But if America is in trouble, we call them and we say, “We have problems, France.” We have a problem with a few others that I won’t mention. Do you think they will come to protect us? They should do this. I’m not sure. ”
The alliance received help from the United States after September 11, the only time in its history to invoke defense assurances. Article 5 was cited after the 2001 attack on the Twin Towers, leading to NATO’s biggest operation in Afghanistan. French troops participated in the operation.
Trump said on Thursday he saw NATO If he thinks that the problem as a spending problem can be solved. “They are trading,” he said of the security alliance.
Trump’s remarks on NATO are largely in line with his years of criticism of the alliance, but they have long viewed NATO as a threat when the Western world is concerned about Trump’s comfortable relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Last week, Trump affirmed the U.S. commitment to NATO defending each other, joining British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for a press conference.
The French Embassy in Washington was unable to arrive immediately. A NATO spokesman mentioned Rut’s early comments.
