Trump's Comments on NATO Spark Concerns
Former President Encourages Russia to Attack Allies
As US allies reel from Donald Trump's weekend comments encouraging Russia to attack European allies if they don't meet NATO budget commitments, questions are being raised about the future of the alliance and the transatlantic relationship.
What Did Trump Say About NATO?
During an interview with Fox News on Saturday, Trump said that if NATO members do not pay their fair share of the alliance's budget, the United States would not protect them from attack by Russia.
"I said a long time ago that NATO had problems," Trump said. "Now I think NATO has bigger problems than ever before. I think NATO is obsolete. It was created many, many years ago. It was meant for a different world."
Trump's comments were met with swift condemnation from NATO members and US lawmakers. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Trump's comments were "unacceptable" and that NATO is "a cornerstone of our security."
US Senator John McCain (R-AZ) said that Trump's comments were "deeply irresponsible" and that they "undermine the credibility of the United States."
The Trump administration has since tried to downplay the president's comments, saying that they were not meant to be taken seriously. However, Trump's comments have raised serious concerns about the future of NATO and the transatlantic relationship.
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