The Secretary General of NATO has critised Donald Trump for putting US and European soldiers’ lives in danger.
The former US President said that he would “encourage” Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to the 31 NATO member states.
Jens Stoltenberg slammed Trump over his comments that the US should not provide protection to allies who fail to pay enough on their defence budgets, warning that this “undermines all of our security.”
Speaking in South Carolina Trump told people at a rally that until he became President of America NATO was “busted.”
He told a crowd on Saturday, “NATO was busted until I came along.
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“I said, ‘Everybody’s gonna pay.’ They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay, are you still going to protect us?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ They couldn’t believe the answer.”
Trump said that “one of the Presidents of a big country” had asked him if America would still defend them if Russia invaded and they “don’t pay.”
According to 2023 data some 19 out of 30 member states are spending less than the agreed NATO defence budget of 2% of their GDP, these include France, Norway and Germany, whilst Poland are spending 3.9%.
The head of NATO said in a statement, “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.
“I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election, the US will remain a strong and committed NATO ally.”
He added that NATO remains “ready and able to defend all allies.”
The White House said, “President Biden has restored our alliances and made us stronger in the world because he knows every commander in chief’s first responsibility is to keep the American people safe and hold true to the values that unite us,” it said.
“Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home.
“Rather than calling for wars and promoting deranged chaos, President Biden will continue to bolster American leadership and stand up for our national security interests – not against them.”
Following NATO’s chief comments, the US President Joe Biden said, “Donald Trump’s admission that he intends to give Putin a green light for more war and violence, to continue his brutal assault against a free Ukraine, and to expand his aggression to the people of Poland and the Baltic states, [is] appalling and dangerous.”
On Sunday NATO said in response to Trump’s comments, “NATO remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response.
“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US, and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.
“I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election the US will remain a strong and committed NATO ally.”
The White House blasted Trump’s remarks and said that they were “appalling and unhinged.”
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement, “President Biden has restored our alliances and made us stronger in the world because he knows every commander in chief’s first responsibility is to keep the American people safe and hold true to the values that unite us.
“Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes is appalling and unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home.”
