WASHINGTON: Donald Trump Former US President defended his NATO record, claiming that he had made it “strong” after generating a torrent of criticism after statements that questioned his loyalty to the alliance.
Trump was chastised from all sides after suggesting in a speech on Saturday that he would “encourage” Russia to attack Nato countries that had not met their financial responsibilities, in his most harsh criticism of the organization.
Trump has often railed about NATO, accused Western partners of being freeloaders who do not contribute to military spending and assume they can rely on the United States as a defense shield.
However, he frequently shown throughout and after his term in government that he apparently does not comprehend NATO or is unable to talk truthfully about it.
NATO nations made a vague pledge in 2006, which was codified in 2014, to devote two percent of their GDP on their own security, but members do not contribute to annual fees and do not “owe” the alliance funds for defense.
Speaking at a campaign event that held in South Carolina on Saturday, Trump detailed a chat with a fellow head of state at an unidentified NATO summit.
“One of the president of a large country stood up and asked, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and get targeted by Russia, will you save us?'” I responded, ‘You didn’t pay, are you delinquent? “No, I wasn’t going to safeguard you,” Trump informed his fans.
President Joe Biden condemned the remarks as “appalling and dangerous,” indicating that his preceding, who is campaigning for reelection, planned to give Russian President Vladimir Putin “the opportunity for further conflict and violence.”
SOURCE: DAWN NEWS
