Graham responds to Trump NATO comments: ‘If you don’t pay you get kicked out’

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R.S.C.) responded to former President Trump’s recent comments about NATO, saying he supports the former president’s call for alliance members to contribute what they consider their fair share. .

In recent days, President Trump has doubled down on his claims that while in office he told foreign leaders that if their countries did not contribute enough to NATO, Russia would do “whatever it wants.” In an interview on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Graham said he supports NATO members paying their fair share in the alliance.

“I want a system where if you don’t pay, you get kicked out. But no, I’m not encouraging Russia to invade Ukraine,” Graham said Sunday. “President Trump is right to ask NATO countries to meet their 2% obligations.”

“We need to turn it into a meaningful obligation. I’m a big fan of NATO, but there’s still $70 to $80 billion left. If you’re in NATO, pay 2 percent.” He said.

President Trump’s request for contributions from NATO members centers on efforts to have all member states allocate 2% of their gross domestic product to defense spending, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg It is used as a benchmark. I said at least half of it. The 31-nation alliance’s members are scheduled to meet in 2024.

“I think it’s appropriate for everyone to meet the 2% obligation,” Graham said.

Trump’s comments caused some division within the Republican Party, with some pushing back and others trying to defend him. President Trump has been critical of NATO in the past, frequently attacking the alliance during his tenure for not contributing what some member countries believed was sufficient.

President Biden criticized President Trump’s comments in a statement at the time, calling them “appalling and dangerous.”

“Donald Trump has admitted what he intends to admit.” [Russian President Vladimir Putin] “Giving the green light for more war and violence, continuing the brutal attacks on free Ukraine and expanding aggression against the peoples of Poland and the Baltic states is horrifying and dangerous.”