U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham criticized Donald Trump for saying the United States may not always defend its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies and called on Trump to correct the statement in his acceptance speech for the GOP presidential nomination.
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Questioned by The New York Times about Russia’s aggressive activities, which have unsettled the Baltic nations as well as other more recent entrants into NATO, Trump declared on Wednesday that if Russian Federation were to attack, he would decide whether to provide assistance only after reviewing whether those countries “have fulfilled their obligations to us”.
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump attends the third day of the Republican National Convention Wednesday at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Thursday that the US commitment to mutual defense is “ironclad”.
Trump’s remarks provoked a swift rebuke from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. This is good for European security and good for U.S. security.
If implemented, Trump’s stated position would constitute a departure from the United States’ commitment to the alliance.
Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump, walks out to the stage to greet Republican Vice Presidential Nominee Gov. Mike Pence of IN during the third day session of the Republican National Convention IN Cleveland, Wednesday, July 20, 2016.
Helme believes that Trump would be a better American president for Estonia than Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest declined to directly address Trump’s comments to The New York Times but said potential foes should make no mistake or miscalculation about Washington’s readiness to defend its NATO treaty allies.
Jeffrey Goldberg, a foreign-policy journalist, argues in The Atlantic that Trump is doing Russian president Vladimir Putin’s work for him in weakening allied solidarity. The phrase “America First” was used in the 1930s by isolationists who sought to keep the United States out of World War II. When the interviewer pointed out charges that Putin kills opponents and that he invaded neighboring Ukraine, Trump responded that Putin is “running his country, and at least he’s a leader, unlike what we have in this country”. Trump was questioned about a recent failed coup in Turkey.
Even Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, took issue with part of Trump’s remarks, saying that “the phrase about Russian Federation even hypothetically attacking someone is unfortunate wording”. Trump would say anything that would suit his electorate’s interest of America first.
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For example, he said it might not be necessary to station American troops overseas, though he agreed it’s preferable. “I hope he will do so tonight when the world is watching”.
