Trump has put US troops in Europe ‘in greater danger’ after claiming he would encourage Russia to attack allies that don’t spend on defense, the US ambassador to NATO says.
- Donald Trump suggested Russia ‘could do whatever they want’ to NATO members who don’t pay their annual dues during a campaign rally Saturday
- The former president was widely mocked for his “dangerous” comments
- Julianne Smith, the US ambassador to NATO, criticized Trump for his comments
Donald Trump’s latest threat against NATO is irrational and puts US troops and allies at risk, US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith said on Tuesday.
The former president sparked a firestorm after suggesting at a campaign event on Saturday that Russia could “just do whatever they want” to NATO members who don’t pay their annual dues – which amount to two percent of GDP per country.
Trump railed against the 20 NATO member states that failed to meet the two percent threshold required by the alliance. Only eleven countries paid the required financing requirement of two percent of GDP in 2023.
“Encouraging the Kremlin to attack NATO territory or a NATO ally puts American soldiers and also allied soldiers in greater danger,” Julianne Smith said today in an interview with Bloomberg.
“Such statements are irrational, irresponsible and downright dangerous,” she continued.
US Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith called Trump’s comments about the alliance “dangerous” and that his comments endanger US and allied soldiers
Former President Donald Trump suggested to a crowd in South Carolina that Russia could “do whatever they want” to NATO countries that don’t spend enough on defense
Trump told the crowd Saturday that the president of a NATO country came to him while he was in office and wondered whether the U.S. would still protect the country if it didn’t meet the two percent threshold.
‘No, I wouldn’t protect you, in fact I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever they want, you have to pay! You have to pay your bills,” Trump said, drawing applause from the crowd.
The US spent $860 billion on defense spending in 2023, contributing 3.49 percent of its GDP to military initiatives.
Outside the meeting, Trump was criticized for his comments.
The White House quickly condemned the former president’s comments, calling them “appalling and unhinged” and arguing that they “promoted dangerous chaos.”
Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the comments should disqualify Trump from office.
“Donald Trump is not really qualified to be president if he doesn’t understand the importance of NATO,” Blumenthal told DailyMail.com.
Trump’s NATO comments are “outrageous, but unfortunately not surprising,” said Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga.
“Rooting for Russia,” Warnock continued, “it’s incredibly shocking.”
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also hit back in a statement released Sunday.
“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all our security, including that of the United States, and puts American and European soldiers in greater danger,” he said.
“NATO remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and strong response.”
“I expect that regardless of who wins the presidential election, the US will remain a strong and committed NATO ally.”
However, contrary to the former president’s claims, Smith said no NATO country has outstanding contributions.
‘No one here within the NATO alliance is delinquent. There are no past payments in any form.”
“I am absolutely confident that we will continue to see strong American support for this alliance going forward,” she continued.