(Dan Tri) – European officials criticized former US President Donald Trump after he recounted his warning about `encouraging` Russia to attack NATO countries that do not contribute financially as committed.
Former US President Donald Trump (Photo: Reuters).
Two European officials criticized US President Donald Trump on February 11 after his previous controversial statement about not protecting a NATO ally that has not contributed financially as committed to the alliance.
European Union Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton was asked in an interview on LCI television channel about the comments of Mr. Trump, who is highly likely to become the Republican candidate in the election.
`We cannot flip a coin regarding our security every four years depending on this election or that election, specifically the US presidential election,` he said.
The EU official also added that European Union leaders understand that the bloc needs to increase its own military capabilities and spending.
Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz also commented.
`NATO’s motto is ‘one member for all, all for one member’. This is a concrete commitment. Weakening the credibility of allied countries means weakening NATO as a whole.`
`No election campaign can be used as an excuse to play with the Union’s security situation,` he said.
NATO officials have not commented on Mr. Trump’s statement.
Previously, in a speech on February 10 at a campaign event in South Carolina, Mr. Trump recounted a meeting with NATO leaders.
According to Mr. Trump, when a leader of a major country asked: `If we do not contribute fully and Russia attacks us, will the US protect us?`.
Mr. Trump replied: `You are not contributing enough? You are not doing your duty. If that happens, we will not protect you. In fact, I will encourage them to do anything.`
Afterwards, White House spokesman Andrew Bates criticized Mr. Trump’s comments as `appalling and baseless, endangering US national security, global stability and our domestic economy.`
During and after his presidency, Mr. Trump repeatedly criticized NATO, the military alliance led by the US.
Last week, the New York Times quoted well-informed sources as saying that informal discussions were said to have taken place in Germany and some other European countries about the risk of NATO disbanding if Mr. Trump is re-elected president.
Meanwhile, a number of European countries have recently called on the continent to establish its own army.
Last month, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the European Union should create its own military that could play a role in peacekeeping and conflict prevention.
