Trump Calls US NATO Support 'Ridiculous' Ahead of Summit
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Donald Trump criticized the US's "one-sided" relationship with NATO ahead of a summit, stating it is not reciprocal.
- He argued that European allies have not adequately supported the US, particularly in response to the war in Iran.
- Trump wants Europe to take the lead in its own defense, while NATO leaders agreed last year to boost defense spending.
Former US President Donald Trump has declared it "ridiculous" for the United States to maintain its current "one-sided" relationship with NATO, just days before a key alliance summit. Writing on his Truth Social platform, Trump asserted that NATO allies "were not there for us!!!" and that the US relationship with the alliance is "not reciprocal."
Trump has frequently criticized European allies for their perceived lack of support, especially concerning the war in Iran and their response to US operations in the Middle East. He insists that Europe should assume greater responsibility for its own defense, signaling a potential scaling back of US commitments.
They were not there for us!!!
A chart shared by Trump highlighted the significant disparity in defense spending among NATO members, showing the US investing far more than countries like the UK and France. Despite these criticisms, NATO leaders had previously agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 under pressure from Trump.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted Trump's disappointment with allies' responses to Middle East operations. Senator Marco Rubio anticipates that these rifts will be a central topic at the upcoming summit in Ankara, Turkey, which convenes 32 member states. Founded in 1949, NATO has historically served as a US-led defense force crucial for European stability.
The president’s views – frankly, disappointment – at some of our Nato allies and their response to our operations in the Middle East, they are well documented. That will have to be addressed.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by The Guardian in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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