As of: February 14, 2024, 6:46 a.m
By: Stefan Krieger
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US President Joe Biden sees Donald Trump's comments on NATO as a “bow to a Russian dictator”.
Washington, DC – Clear reaction from Washington to Trump’s NATO comments.
US President Joe Biden has condemned former US head of state Donald Trump's statements as "stupid" and "shameful".
In a televised address from the White House on Tuesday (February 13, local time), Biden accused his predecessor of bowing to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“For heaven’s sake, that’s stupid, that’s shameful, that’s dangerous, that’s un-American,” Biden said of Trump’s threat to withhold military assistance to defaulting NATO members.
Biden on Trump's statement: "The worst thing is that he means it"
“Can you imagine a former president of the United States saying something like that?
The whole world heard it.
And the worst thing is that he means it,” the Democrat continued.
“No other president in our history has ever bowed to a Russian dictator.
Let me say this as clearly as I can: I never will.”
Sharply criticizes Trump's statements: Joe Biden.
© Evan Vucci/dpa
Trump, who wants to challenge Biden in the 2024 US election and run again for the Republicans, said during a campaign appearance at the weekend that the “president of a great country” had once asked him whether the USA would still protect this country from Russia would if it did not pay defense spending.
He replied: "No, I wouldn't protect you." In fact, he would "even encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want."
Biden sharply attacks Trump
Biden had already sharply criticized the statement over the weekend, but has now followed up.
Principles don't matter to Trump, Biden complained.
“When he looks at NATO, he doesn’t see the alliance that protects America and the world.” Instead, Trump sees the alliance as a burden or as a means for protection money demands.
As a defense alliance, NATO relies on the principle of deterrence and Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty is particularly relevant to this.
It regulates the obligation of assistance in the alliance and states that an armed attack against one or more allies is viewed as an attack against all.
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Biden recalled that this alliance case had only been triggered once in the history of NATO - and that was in support of America, after the terrorist attacks against the USA on September 11, 2001. The Democrat also emphasized once again that he stood by the obligation to provide assistance. and as long as he was president, the United States would defend every inch of NATO territory.
There was also sharp criticism from other countries after Trump's statements.
(dpa/afp/skr)