ALBAWABA - During a presidential rally, former U.S. president and current candidate Donald J. Trump, said that he had once told a leader he would not protect a nation behind on its payments, and would "encourage" the aggressors to "do whatever the hell they want".
Trump added that he would "encourage" Russia to attack any of the U.S. NATO allies whom he considers to have not fulfilled their financial obligations. Commenting on the former president's remarks, The White House described them as "appalling and unhinged".
Trump held the campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina, ahead of the state’s Republican presidential preference primary on 24 February.
The former president has expressed concerns regarding the aid provided to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russia's invasion in February 2022, as well as the viability of NATO, the 31-nation organization that the US has pledged to protect if necessary.
Trump said that during a confidential NATO summit, he informed a fellow head of state that the US, under his leadership, would not support any "delinquent" countries.
"One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?" Trump said, adding "I said, ‘You didn’t pay, you’re delinquent?".
"No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You got to pay. You got to pay your bills" Trump told the crows attending his campaign rally.
After Russia invaded Ukraine's Crimean peninsula in 2014, NATO members decided to suspend their post-Cold War budget reduction and commit to spending 2% of their GDP on defense by 2024.
During his 2016 campaign, Trump frightened Western allies by threatening that under his leadership, the US may forsake its NATO treaty commitments and only defend nations who fulfill the alliance's 2% threshold.
As of 2022, NATO stated that seven of its 31 member countries were reaching the commitment, up from three in 2014. Some Nato nations have increased their military spending in response to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Trump's remarks came as Ukraine continues to battle to prevent Russia's 2022 invasion, and Republicans in Congress have grown increasingly reluctant to send extra help to the nation as it grapples with failed counteroffensives and shortages of weapons.
