Former President Trump stepped up his criticism of NATO on Monday, insisting that the military alliance had grown stronger under his leadership in the White House.
President Trump claimed that during his administration he made NATO “stronger” by asking member states to spend more to meet the alliance’s defense spending goals. He called on the Alliance to “level the playing field” and do the same today.
“I made NATO stronger, and even RINOS and the Radical Left Democratic Party recognize that,” Trump said Monday. Post to Truth Social. “When I told the 20 countries that hadn’t paid their fair share that they had to pay or they wouldn’t have the protection of the U.S. military, the money started rolling in.”
“It was a beautiful sight after the United States had picked up the tab for years. But now they’re starting to do it again without me being there and saying, ‘You have to pay.’ ” he added
The former president’s comments came after he told a story at a rally in South Carolina over the weekend in which an unidentified foreign leader once questioned him about threatening not to defend unreachable members of Congress. It has come under intense scrutiny from various U.S. and Western government officials. Alliance defense spending goals.
He went on to claim that he told the leaders that he would “encourage” Russia to do whatever it wanted, recalling, “You didn’t pay?” you are a delinquent. ”
During his presidency, Trump repeatedly pressured member states to allocate 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) to defense spending. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: at least half Of the 31-member Union, it is expected to reach that figure in 2024; 7 members in 2022.
The former president repeatedly threatened to leave the alliance during his time in office, and John Bolton, who served as national security adviser during his administration, said he would threaten Trump if he were elected to a second term. He warned that they might try to force it.
Stoltenberg said Sunday that President Trump’s comments endanger the safety of the U.S. military and its allies.
President Trump also pointed to billions of dollars spent on funding for Ukraine in recent calls for NATO members to be more aggressive in meeting spending goals.
“We are more committed to supporting Ukraine by $100 billion than NATO,” he wrote. “We have no one they respect and they demand much lower pay than we do. No, NATO has to be equal, and now. If we do, they will. If not, America comes first! Let’s make America great again.”
President Biden called President Trump’s comments over the weekend “appalling and dangerous statements,” and President Trump’s main Republican primary opponent, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, called Russian President Vladimir Putin He cited the former president as warning against “taking sides with thugs.”
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