Nikki Haley (left), Donald Trump.Photo:AP Photo/Morry Gash(2)
AP Photo/Morry Gash(2)
Nikki Haleyis warning thatDonald Trumphas put the United States and its allies at risk after the former president said at a campaign rally that he “would not protect” NATO countries that have not paid their dues — a comment that garnered swift bipartisan backlash.
NATO — the American-European military alliance that currently includes 31 member countries, including the U.S. — was established in 1949 as a means of providing collective security against the Soviet Union.
Trump, at a South Carolina rally held on Saturday, claimed that when he was president he told an unidentified NATO member country that he would “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes with NATO countries that do not contribute 2% of their gross domestic product to defense spending.
“You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?” Trump recalled previously telling the NATO member. “No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills."
As theAssociated Pressnotes, NATO members are not required to spend 2% of their GDPs toward their military budgets, though it’s a goal that members have agreed to work towards.
Michelle Gustafson/Bloomberg via Getty
“What bothers me about [Trump’s comment] is, don’t take the side of a thug who kills his opponents. Don’t take the side of someone who has gone in and invaded a country,” Haley continued, referring to Russian PresidentVladimir Putinand hisongoing invasion of Ukraine. “And half a million people have died or been wounded because of Putin.”
Elaborating on the danger of isolating any NATO allies, Haley said, “What we always need to remember is America needs to have friends. … Now, we do want NATO allies to pull their weight, but there are ways you can do that without sitting there and telling Russia, ‘Have your way with these countries.'”
Nikki Haley, then the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, meets with Donald Trump in the Oval Office in 2018.OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty
“NATO remains ready and able to defend all Allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response. Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk,” NATO Secretary General Jans Stoltenberg said in a statement, perCBS News.
PresidentJoe Bidenalso slammed Trump for the remarks, saying in his ownstatement: “Donald Trump’s admission that he intends to give Putin a green light for more war and violence, to continue his brutal assault against a free Ukraine, and to expand his aggression to the people of Poland and the Baltic States are appalling and dangerous."
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump.
Trump hassharply criticized NATO in the past— even referring to the alliance as “obsolete” and threatening to withdraw the U.S. from the post-World War II coalition.
Meanwhile, during his term in office, Trump often spoke in glowing terms about Putin, showing an unusual affinity for Russia’s authoritarian president and saying that a closer relationship with Russia was in America’s best strategic interests.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer.
source: people.com
