Former US President Donald Trump has described the NATO alliance as 'ridiculous' just days before a key summit of the military alliance, raising new questions about America's long-standing commitment to collective defence.
Trump's Criticism of NATO
Speaking at a campaign rally in Florida on Saturday, Trump said, 'NATO is ridiculous. We pay billions and billions of dollars to defend Europe, and they don't pay their fair share.' He added that the United States should 'rethink' its role in the alliance if allies do not contribute more.
Trump's remarks come ahead of the NATO summit scheduled for next week in Vilnius, Lithuania, where leaders are expected to discuss defence spending, support for Ukraine, and the alliance's future strategy.
Reaction from Officials
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg responded indirectly, emphasising that the alliance is 'the most successful defensive alliance in history' and that all members have agreed to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defence. 'NATO is not about charity; it's about shared security,' Stoltenberg said in a press conference.
According to a recent NATO report, only 11 of the 31 member states are expected to meet the 2% target in 2024, up from 7 in 2023. The United States itself spends roughly 3.5% of its GDP on defence, far exceeding the threshold.
Impact on Alliance Unity
Trump's comments have alarmed European diplomats, who fear that a potential second Trump presidency could undermine NATO's collective defence principle. 'If the US pulls back, it would be a gift to Moscow,' said a senior EU official speaking on condition of anonymity.
President Joe Biden, who is expected to attend the summit, has reaffirmed Washington's 'ironclad commitment' to Article 5, which states that an attack on one ally is an attack on all.
