Germany slams Trump’s NATO threat — RT World News
The former US president sparked anger when he said he would encourage Russia to attack NATO countries that do not “pay their bills.”
German Chancellor Olaf Schulz made a veiled criticism of former US President Donald Trump, indicating that he would do so “adventure” With European security after Trump's sarcasm “sinner” NATO members have failed to meet the bloc's minimum defense spending.
Speaking alongside Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin on Monday, Schulz insisted that NATO “The promise of protection applies without reservation.” He appears to be responding to recent statements by Trump during the election campaign.
“Let me be clear about the current situation. Any relativization of NATO’s mutual assistance guarantees is irresponsible, dangerous and only plays into Russia’s interests. No one can be allowed to gamble with Europe’s security.” he added.
These comments come after the former US president told a crowd of people in South Carolina on Saturday that he would do so “He encourages” Moscow attacks any NATO country that fails to meet the alliance's military spending target of 2% of GDP, joking that “sinner” Members “I have to pay. You have to pay your bills.”
Berlin has long stayed below the spending floor, but is said to plan to meet the 2% target sometime this year with the help of a €100 billion fund set up to shore up Germany's defenses in light of the conflict in Ukraine. However, its regular budget is not expected to reach that goal for several more years, according to the Associated Press.
The bloc's own statistics for 2023 show that most NATO countries do not meet spending minimums. Of its 31 members, only 12 currently spend at least 2% of GDP on defence.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also responded to Trump's provocative comments, rejecting any suggestion that the alliance would not defend member states that fail to meet the threshold, while stating the idea “It completely undermines our security.”
Likewise, US President Joe Biden condemned the words of his predecessor “Horrific and dangerous.”
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