USA is there if Europeans pay
Trump softens threat to leave NATO
March 20, 2024, 12:07 a.m
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The payment practices of many NATO members leave a lot to be desired. That’s why former US President Trump recently made wild threats. In an interview with Brexit hardliner Farage, he now moderates his tone. Washington will not leave the alliance if Europe pays its contribution.
Former US President Donald Trump has made it clear that if he returns to the White House, the US would not withdraw from NATO as long as Europe makes its contribution to the military alliance. In an interview with the right-wing British broadcaster GB News, the Republican was asked by presenter and Brexit campaigner Nigel Farage about his stance on the defense alliance. Farage wanted to know whether America would stay in NATO if the other member states “played fairly.” Trump replied: “Yes. 100 percent.”
However, European countries should not take advantage of American support, Trump said. “The United States should pay its fair share, not everyone else’s.” One should not forget that NATO is more important for Europe than for the USA, because there is an ocean, “a beautiful, big, wonderful ocean” between the USA and “some problems” in Europe.
Sharp reprimand from Stoltenberg
Trump is a proven critic of NATO. During his term in office from 2017 to 2021, Trump repeatedly openly threatened to withdraw the USA from the alliance. He sharply criticized his members for not meeting the defense spending target. Like no one before, he raised doubts about whether the transatlantic defense alliance founded in 1949 had a future. For example, he repeatedly questioned whether the USA would fulfill its obligation to provide military assistance in an emergency.
It was only in February that the Republican presidential candidate caused a stir with a statement about NATO at a campaign event. He said he would not provide protection from Russia to NATO partners who failed to meet their financial obligations. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg responded clearly: “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines our overall security, including that of the United States, and increases the risk to American and European soldiers.”