As of: February 13, 2024, 3:32 p.m
By: Simon Schröder
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Donald Trump comments on his comments in South Carolina and feels vindicated.
The NATO countries' criticism of his statements proves that he is right.
Washington – Donald Trump's ludicrous statements caused horror in NATO member states.
There was also harsh criticism from Washington and voices were even raised from his own camp.
Trump then said on Truth Social, his own social media platform: “I made NATO strong, and even the Rinos and radical left Democrats admit it.”
Rinos, or “Republicans in name only,” are those Republicans who do not appear loyal enough to their own party.
Trump sees his NATO threat confirmed and speaks of a beautiful sight
He further wrote that it would have been a “beautiful sight” when, in response to his threat that he would refuse military aid, the remaining 20 NATO member states paid their “bill”.
The 77-year-old is referring to the defense alliance's two percent target, according to which two percent of a country's gross domestic product should be spent on military purposes.
“When I told the 20 countries that weren't paying their fair share that they had to do their part and said that otherwise they wouldn't receive U.S. military protection, the money just started flowing in.”
Donald Trump gestures on stage at the Caucus Night Rally in Las Vegas on February 9, 2024.
© Alex Brandon
Trump questions alliance case - no defense of defaulting NATO members
What Trump is ignoring here is the so-called NATO alliance case.
According to Article 5 of the military alliance, an attack on one member country is an attack on all states of the military alliance.
The USA would therefore be obliged to defend its allies in such a case.
Although some NATO states have long been criticized for not meeting the two percent target, this is merely a guideline.
According to reports from the
Tagesschau
, the two percent target was only renegotiated in the middle of last year.
It should no longer be seen as just a guideline, but rather as a minimum for defense spending.
Trump and Putin: Flattery for Russia's president is not an isolated case
If Trump's statements last Saturday are to be believed, he would be in favor of an attack by Putin on defaulting NATO member states.
At an election rally in South Carolina, the ex-president recalled a conversation he is said to have had with a NATO member state.
His interlocutor asked: “Well, sir, if we didn’t pay and we were attacked by Russia, would they protect us?”
The 77-year-old would have replied: “No, I wouldn’t protect you.”
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Trump has long had an affinity for Putin.
For example, he noted that Putin would never have attacked Ukraine if he had still been president.
“He would never have gone in if I were president,” said the 77-year-old in a CNN Town Hall interview last year.
He also described the Russian invasion in February 2022 as “brilliant” and “very clever” in a radio interview.
So this latest Trump quote joins a history of flattery to Putin.