Trump says he has warned NATO allies: pay up, or he's telling Russia: 'Do whatever it wants'

Former President Donald J. Trump said Saturday that while he was president, he told the leaders of NATO countries that he would “encourage” Russia “to do whatever they want” to countries that want the money they are spending army owed had not been paid. alliance.

Mr. Trump did not make clear whether he ever planned to follow through on such a threat and what that would mean for the alliance, but his comment at a campaign event in South Carolina — a variation on one he has previously made to to highlight his negotiating skills – is likely to raise concerns among NATO member states, who are already very nervous about the prospect of a Trump return.

Mr. Trump's suggestion that he would encourage Russian aggression against allies of the United States — for whatever reason — comes as Republicans in Congress have opposed more aid to Ukraine in its war against Russia, and as European officials have expressed concern about possible Russian aggression on NATO's eastern side.

Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed these warnings as “threat mongering” in an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson broadcast Thursday. “We have no interest in Poland, Latvia or anywhere else,” Mr. Putin said. .

But he has also called on the United States to “make a deal” to end the war in Ukraine by ceding Ukrainian territory to Russia, comments seen by some as a call for American conservatives to avoid further involvement in the war. to block.

Some European officials and foreign policy experts have said they are concerned that Russia could invade a NATO country after the war with Ukraine ends; According to them, the fear is reinforced by the possibility that Trump will return to the presidency.

Mr Trump has previously expressed his belief that support for NATO is too heavy a burden for the United States, saying the alliance is draining its financial and military resources. His campaign website says the country should reevaluate the organization's purpose.

He has recalled in the past privately telling NATO members that the United States would not defend them against Russian attacks if they were behind on payments. Last year, he claimed in a campaign speech that “hundreds of billions of dollars flowed in” to NATO after he made that threat.

On Saturday, he brought up that anecdote again, saying he told European leaders to “pay up.”

Then, he said, the president of “a great country stood up and said, 'Well, sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?'”

Mr Trump said he had asked the other president if the country was “delinquent” on his payments. The leader replied, “Yes. Let's just say that happened,” Trump said.

“No, I wouldn't protect you,” Trump recalled his response. 'Actually, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.”