US ambassador to NATO says President Trump is putting US forces in Europe at ‘greater risk’ by encouraging Russia to attack allies that don’t pay for their defense

• President Donald Trump suggested at a campaign rally on Saturday that Russia would do “whatever it wants” to NATO members who don’t pay their annual dues.
• Former president widely ridiculed for ‘dangerous’ remarks
• US Ambassador to NATO Julian Smith condemns President Trump’s comments

U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julian Smith said Tuesday that Donald Trump’s recent threats against NATO are unreasonable and endanger U.S. forces and allies.

The former president sparked a firestorm at an election event on Saturday when he suggested Russia could do “whatever it wants” to NATO members that do not pay annual dues worth 2% of each country’s GDP.

President Trump had slammed the 20 NATO members for failing to meet the alliance’s 2% threshold. Only 11 countries paid the required 2% of GDP financing requirement in 2023.

“Encouraging the Kremlin to attack NATO territory and NATO allies puts not only U.S. soldiers but also allied soldiers at greater risk,” Julian Smith said in an interview with Bloomberg today. .

“Such statements are irrational, irresponsible and completely dangerous,” she continued.

President Trump told an audience on Saturday that presidents from NATO countries came up to him while he was in office and wondered if the United States would still protect them even if they didn’t pay the 2% threshold. Ta.

“No, I won’t protect you. In fact, I encourage them (Russia) to do whatever they want, you have to pay!” You pay the bill We must,” Trump said to applause from the crowd.

Meanwhile, the United States spent $860 billion on defense in 2023, contributing 3.49% of GDP to military initiatives.

Trump’s comments were criticized outside the rally.

The White House quickly denounced the former president’s comments as “appalling and disorderly” and claimed he had “fomented dangerous chaos.”

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said the comments should disqualify Trump from the presidency.

“If Donald Trump doesn’t understand the importance of NATO, he doesn’t deserve to be president,” Blumenthal told DailyMail.com.

Sen. Raphael Warnock, D-Ga., said President Trump’s NATO comments were “outrageous, but sadly not surprising.”

“I’m rooting for Russia,” Warnock said, adding: “It’s shocking beyond words.”

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also hit back in a statement released on Sunday.

“Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our national security, including ours, and puts American and European soldiers at further risk,” he said.

“NATO remains ready and able to protect all allies. We will respond with a united and strong response to any attack against NATO.”

“No matter who wins the presidential election, we expect the United States to remain a strong and committed NATO ally.”

However, contrary to the former president’s claims, Smith said that no NATO member country has unpaid dues.

“There is no one here in the NATO alliance who has committed any wrongdoing. There are no past dues in any way.”

“I am absolutely confident that we will continue to see strong support from the United States for this alliance,” she continued.