Nato chief says Trump’s Russia feedback ‘put US and European soldiers at risk’ | EUROtoday

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Nato head Jens Stoltenberg says Donald’s Trump’s suggestion that the US mustn’t defend allies who fail to spend sufficient on defence “undermines all of our security”.

Speaking at a rally in South Carolina on Saturday, the previous US president stated he remembered how as president he informed an unidentified Nato member that he would “encourage” Russia to do because it needs in instances of what he referred to as “delinquent” Nato allies.

The Republican presidential frontrunner stated Russia ought to be capable to do “whatever the hell they want” to alliance members who don’t meet their defence spending targets.

“‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recounted saying at his Conway rally.

“‘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.’”

The Nato secretary-general contradicted the feedback from Mr Trump, who’s looking for to return for a second time period as US president, and stated that each one 31 allies of the Nato bloc had been dedicated to defending one another.

“Nato remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on Nato will be met with a united and forceful response,” he stated.

He added Mr Trump’s remarks “put 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, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” Mr Stoltenberg stated on Sunday.

“Regardless of who wins the presidential election, the US will remain a strong and committed Nato ally,” he stated.

Mr Trump stated he had knowledgeable his allies he would “encourage” Russia to assault any Nato member not assembly the alliance’s agreed defence spending goal of two per cent of their GDP.

At least 19 of 30 member nations within the Nato bloc are spending lower than that, information from Nato confirmed in 2023.

These nations embody Germany, Norway and France.

Mr Trump’s feedback triggered a wave of concern in Poland, which is dealing with elevated danger of assault from Russia. The central European nation has been beneath Russian management most of the time for the reason that finish of the 18th century.

Defence minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz warned that “no election campaign is an excuse for playing with the security of the alliance”.

While the German authorities didn’t formally remark, its overseas workplace printed an announcement on Sunday morning highlighting the precept of solidarity governing Nato.

“‘One for all and all for one.’ This Nato creed retains greater than 950 million folks secure – from Anchorage to Erzurum,” the foreign ministry said on X, formerly Twitter.

Mr Trump’s remarks were also condemned by his successor Joe Biden, who said that his comments would embolden Vladimir Putin and that a second Trump administration could contribute to a widening conflict in Europe.

“Donald Trump’s admission that he intends to provide Putin a inexperienced mild for extra warfare and violence, to proceed his brutal assault towards a free Ukraine, and to develop his aggression to the folks of Poland and the Baltic states, [is] appalling and harmful,” he stated.

While in workplace, Mr Trump had already threatened to not come to the help of any nation beneath assault that he deemed to not be assembly its Nato commitments.