Donald Trump has warned he is “not so sure” whether France would support the US if it were called upon – despite Europe stepping up to defend America after 9/11.
Asked whether he would defend Nato countries which didn’t meet the alliance’s defence spending requirement, Trump said: “I think it’s common sense, right?
“If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. I got into a lot of heat when I said that… They said: ‘Oh, he’s violating Nato.’
“The biggest problem I have with Nato is that – yeah, I know the guys very well, they’re friends of mine – if the United States was in trouble, and we called them, we said we had a problem… ‘France, we got a problem’, a couple of others I won’t mention, do you think they’re going to come and protect us?
‘If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them,’ Trump vowed
REUTERS
“They’re supposed to… But I’m not so sure.”
However, Nato allies met in an emergency session on September 12, 2001 – and all 19 invoked its Article 5, which declares “an armed attack against one or more of them… shall be considered an attack on them all”.
France, Britain and 16 other allies pitched in to defend the US – before embarking on the country’s “war on terror”.
Trump’s remarks come just days after Vice President JD Vance appeared to dismiss the idea of British and French troops as a peacekeeping force in Ukraine – calling them “random countries which haven’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.
That was met with fury in the UK – but this time, the reaction has been more muted.
MORE NATO INFIGHTING:
Trump’s remarks come just days after Vice President JD Vance appeared to dismiss the idea of British and French troops as a peacekeeping force in Ukraine
REUTERS
On Friday morning, Health Minister Stephen Kinnock said Trump’s words were “fair enough”.
He told Sky News: “Donald Trump’s not actually the first President to say that the European arm of Nato needs to step up.
“More needs to be spent on defence, military capability needs to be made fit for purpose.
“Sadly, in our country, we’ve seen our armed forces hollowed out by 14 years of Conservative neglect and incompetence, and it’s about now rebuilding our military capability to look after our own backyard.
“And, you know, I think that’s fair enough – the challenge has been laid and we must now show that we are equal to that challenge.”
President Emmanuel Macron slapped down his American counterpart after his remarks
REUTERS
However, in France – which like Britain has pitched itself as a global leader over the last few days – President Emmanuel Macron slapped down his American counterpart.
“Not only the French, but the Europeans were there when we were called for Afghanistan,” he said. “And by the way, they weren’t politely warned when [the US left Afghanistan]. We are loyal and faithful allies.”
While Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte added: “I know some may have concerns about Nato’s future.
“So let me be clear, the transatlantic relationship and the transatlantic partnership remains the bedrock of our alliance.
“President Trump has made clear the commitment of the US and his commitment personally to Nato, and it has also made clear the expectation that we in Europe must do more in terms of defence spending.”