That would change if he’s elected, Trump told the New York Times.
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Sullivan noted that Trump has a “bizarre and occasionally obsequious fascination” when it comes to Russian President Vladimir Putin. “If they fulfil their obligations to us, the answer is yes”.
Trump responded: “Well, I’m not saying if or not”.
“Solidarity among allies is a key value for NATO”, Stoltenberg said.
He also said he wouldn’t “lecture” North Atlantic Treaty Organisation ally Turkey about purges of political adversaries or crackdowns on civil liberties after the attempted coup in that country, saying the USA had first to “fix our own mess”. Failure to honor those commitments would not only violate said agreement, it would seriously undermine US credibility around the globe.In fact, it could even threaten to bring down the entire alliance.
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said he might abandon NATO’s guarantee of mutual defense and would renegotiate or scrap the NAFTA trade deal if he is elected, drawing fire from some senior Republicans and his Democratic rival. “I don’t think there is anybody he would choose to be secretary of defense or secretary of state who would have a different view from my own”. NATO’s Article V dictates that an attack on one member is considered an attack on them all. More than 1,000 non-U.S. troops died in Afghanistan.
The Times said Trump was specifically addressing whether he would help the Baltic States if Russian Federation attacked him. Trump’s primary objection has been economic. We’re not a rich country.
Referring to what he said were United States trade losses, Mr Trump said: “We are spending a fortune on military in order to lose $800bn”.
He made a similar argument at a CNN town-hall-style event.
Charlie Black, a longtime Republican strategist, said the change was “most unusual”. “We are paying disproportionately”.
“It does not mean that we are turning our backs on the world”. The U.S. placed new troops recently in Poland.
Trump’s remarks provoked a swift rebuke from European capitals, the White House and leaders of the Republican’s own party.
“SANGER: That’s true, but we are treaty-obligated under NATO, forget the bills part”.
“This is good for European security and good for USA security”.
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves pointed to his country’s role in the war in Afghanistan as proof of the country’s commitment, sharing on Twitter a message that said Estonia had one of the highest casualty rates per capita in the conflict.
Ilves’ fellow Eastern European leaders sought to calm the furor.
“Regardless of who becomes the next president, we trust America”, she said. “The United States has always stood by its European allies”. “It doesn’t come with conditions or caveats”.
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an Air Force veteran, called Trump’s comments “a disaster” and said he wasn’t sure he could vote for Trump. “This is good for European security and good for U.S. security”. “Aggressive banality versus common sense”.
Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said, “NATO is the most important military alliance in world history”, but added that he was “willing to kind of chalk it up to a rookie mistake”.
‘I will not interfere in the United States election campaign, ‘ Stoltenberg said.
“They have an obligation to make payments”, Trump said in the interview.
Global commentators are sounding alarm bells about what they call Trump’s concessions to Russian Federation and its president, Vladimir Putin.
Donald Trump during the third day of the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. “It accuses “current officials in the Kremlin” of eroding the “personal liberty and fundamental rights” of the Russian people”.
Republicans’ tacit acceptance of the self-described billionaire’s unorthodox positions is already affecting the party as it embraces platform language that’s friendlier to Russia’s ambitions in Europe ― and to the interests of top Trump lieutenants who would directly benefit from less punishment for Russian belligerence overseas. This situation threatens Russia’s dominance over the supply of natural gas to countries in Eastern and Central Europe.
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But achieving that goal is a task for careful behind-the-scenes diplomacy, not for public threats advertised in the New York Times.
