The former US president, a candidate for re-election in November, has threatened to abandon the Atlantic alliance if he returns to the White House.
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Donald Trump has threatened, if re-elected, to not guarantee NATO protection against Russia. The former US president regularly criticizes his allies at the North Atlantic Treaty Organization for not funding the organization enough. During a meeting in South CarolinaOn Saturday February 10, Donald Trump gave a concrete example, reporting a conversation with one of the NATO heads of state, without naming him.
“One of the presidents of a major country stood up and said, Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?”said the heavy favorite for the Republican Party nomination, before revealing his answer: “No, I will not protect you. In fact I will encourage them to do whatever they want to you. You must pay your debt.”
The statement came after Donald Trump, the presumptive candidate against Democratic President Joe Biden in November’s presidential election, pressured Republican elected officials in Congress to bury a bill for new aid payments to Ukraine.
“Encouraging aggression against our allies” is “horrendous,” White House responds
The White House responded to Donald Trump’s statements by citing Joe Biden’s efforts to strengthen alliances around the world. “Encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by a murderous regime is appalling and foolish,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates responded in a press release issued Saturday evening. “Instead of calling for war and promoting anarchy, President Biden will continue to support American leadership”he added.
An agreement blocked in Congress provided additional aid to Ukraine and Israel. A total of $95 billion, it will be discussed next week, and includes funding for Israel’s fight against Hamas and a key strategic ally, Taiwan.
However, the lion’s share will help Ukraine replenish its stock of munitions, weapons and other essentials as it enters its third year of war. Donald Trump has often been skeptical, sometimes hostile, about continued American aid to Ukraine and has even threatened to quit NATO if he returns to the White House.
