" Be serious !
» The words of Donald Trump, who on Saturday raised the possibility of no longer defending NATO countries whose financial contribution is insufficient in the event of re-election, caused the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell to react.
“NATO cannot be an à la carte alliance,” he said, before a ministerial meeting of the European Union (EU) in Brussels.
“In the times we live in, a military alliance cannot function according to the mood of the President of the United States, it is not:
yes, no, tomorrow, no, it depends
.
Let's go !
NATO either exists or it doesn’t exist,” he said.
“During this ( American electoral
) campaign
, we are going to see and hear a lot of things (…).
Don't count on me to comment on every stupid idea that will be expressed during a national campaign in the United States,” he warned.
Also read: 90,000 soldiers, several months long… What we know about “Steadfast Defender”, NATO’s giant military exercise
During a meeting on Saturday, Donald Trump, who will probably face Joe Biden in the November presidential election, reported a conversation he would have had with one of the heads of state of NATO, without naming him.
“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said:
Sir, if we don't pay and we are attacked by Russia, will you protect us?
“, he said, before revealing his answer: “No, I would not protect you.
In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want.
You have to pay your bills.
»
“Reckless” comments
The American president reacted strongly.
“The fact that Donald Trump admits that he intends to give the green light to (Russian President Vladimir) Putin for more wars and violence, to continue his brutal assault on a free Ukraine and to extend his aggression to the people of Poland and the Baltic States is distressing and dangerous,” Joe Biden said on Sunday.
“Any suggestion that Allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the United States, and places American and European soldiers at increased risk,” said the Secretary General. of NATO Jens Stoltenberg.
“NATO remains ready and capable of defending all Allies,” he insisted in a press release.
“I am confident that the United States will remain a strong and committed NATO Ally, regardless of who wins the presidential election,” he added.
“Reckless statements”
For his part, the President of the European Council Charles Michel on Sunday described Donald Trump's comments as "reckless".
“The Transatlantic Alliance has supported the security and prosperity of Americans, Canadians and Europeans for 75 years,” he said on X. “Reckless statements about NATO security and EU solidarity Article 5 only serves Putin's interests” and “brings neither more security nor more peace in the world,” he added.
The Transatlantic Alliance has underpinned the security and prosperity of Americans, Canadians and Europeans for 75 years.
Reckless statements on #NATO's security and Art 5 solidarity serve only Putin's interest.
They do not bring more security or peace to the world.
We…
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) February 11, 2024
This is not the first time that Donald Trump has attacked the functioning of the Alliance.
When he was president, he repeatedly questioned his partners about their financial participation.
“The United States spends far more on NATO than any other country.
This is not fair, nor acceptable,” he tweeted in July 2018, already asking other countries to “do more.”