The American president again questioned the alliance on Thursday, publicly reflecting whether NATO countries, including France, would defend the United States if they were attacked.
ADVERTISEMENTFrance is a faithful and firm ally in NATO, French President Emmanuel Macron, in the midst of his American counterpart Donald Trump on the military alliance on Thursday.
The French leader has invoked a list of historical events in which France and the United States have “always been there for each other”, in particular the Marquis de Lafayette of the 19th century – who was a major general in the American army fighting the British during the revolutionary war.
France had shown “respect and friendship” to the United States, said Macron. “I think we have the right to expect the same thing,” he added.
Trump again questioned Trump if Washington would defend his NATO allies if they did not pay what he thought was enough for their own defense.
Under article 5, members of the NATO alliance must help if another member is attacked.
“It’s common sense, no,” Trump told journalists on Thursday. “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. No, I’m not going to defend them.
Trump added that he had considered this point of view since his first mandate, when similar comments prompted European members to increase their defense expenses to reach the target by 2%.
The American president said that these efforts were “not sufficient. They should pay more.”
Trump also expressed uncertainty as to whether NATO members would defend the United States if the country was attacked, distinguishing France as an example of an ally of which it “was not sure”.
NATO allies, including France,, however, came to the defense of the United States after the attacks of September 11, 2001 against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, when article 5 was invoked and led to the largest NATO military operation in Afghanistan.
“Ironclad” or not?
Trump’s comments follow those of the American defense secretary, Pete Hegseth last month, who declared in a speech that Washington would not participate in a potential peacekeeping force in Ukraine and would not return to the defense of a NATO country which was attacked by Russia.
Despite Trump’s comments, his choice for NATO ambassador Matt Whitaker, said at his confirmation audience on Wednesday that the US commitment to the NATO alliance and article 5 would be “ironing”.
NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, also sought to reaffirm the force of the Alliance earlier Thursday, telling journalists in Brussels: “Allow me to be clear, the transatlantic relationship and the transatlantic partnership remains the foundation of our alliance.”
“President Trump clearly indicated the commitment of the United States and his commitment personally to NATO, and he also specified that we, in Europe, must do more in terms of defense spending,” added Rutte.
Trump has several times threw doubts since its 2016 presidential campaign that the United States under its leadership may not comply with the mutual defense of the Alliance guaranteed whether the members of the Alliance did not increase their defense expenses.
ADVERTISEMENTTrump said NATO on Thursday was “potentially good” if what he saw as a spending problem could be solved. “They fall on trade,” he concluded.
Last year, NATO secretary general, now training, Jens Stoltenberg said that a record of 23 of the 32 NATO member countries had reached their spending objectives.
Trump took credit from the countries by meeting them because of his threats, Stoltenberg himself saying that the US president was responsible for bringing other nations to increase their expenses.
Additional sources • AP
