by Former President Donald J. Trump said Saturday that, as president, he told leaders of NATO countries that he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever it wanted” to countries that had not paid money they owed to the military. Alliance.
Trump did not make clear whether he ever intended to follow through on such a threat or what that would mean for the alliance, but his comment at a campaign event in South Carolina, a variation on one he had made earlier, highlighted his deal. skills—is likely to cause concern among NATO member states, which are already very nervous about the prospect of a Trump return.
Trump’s suggestion that he would encourage Russian aggression against U.S. allies, for any reason, comes as Republicans in Congress have opposed more aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, and as European officials have expressed concern about possible Russian aggression. aggression on the eastern side of NATO.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed those warnings as “threats” in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson that aired Thursday. “We have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else,” Putin said. .
But he has also called on the United States to “make a deal” to end the war in Ukraine by ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia, comments that were seen by some as a call for American conservatives to block further involvement in the war. .
Some European officials and foreign policy experts have said they are worried that Russia could invade a NATO nation after its war with Ukraine concludes, fears they say are heightened by the possibility of Trump returning to the presidency. .
Trump has previously expressed his belief that support for NATO is too burdensome for the United States, saying the alliance drains his financial and military resources. His campaign website says the country must reevaluate the purpose of the organization.
In the past he recalled privately telling NATO members that the United States would not defend them from Russian attacks if they were behind. Last year, he claimed during a campaign speech that “hundreds of billions of dollars flowed” into NATO after he made that threat.
On Saturday he brought up that anecdote again, saying he told European leaders they had to “pay.”
Then, he said, the president of “a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we get attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’”
Trump said he asked the other president if the country was “delinquent” on its payments. The leader responded: “Yes. Let’s say that happened,” Trump said.
“No, I wouldn’t protect you,” Trump recalled responding. “In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.”
