Donald Trump stated that he would "encourage" Russia to attack any Nato member who fails to pay its dues within the Western military alliance.
He made these remarks at a rally on Saturday, recounting an incident where he informed a leader that he wouldn't defend a nation behind on its payments, and would instead support the aggressors.
Nato members are committed to defending any nation within the bloc that comes under attack. The White House criticized Trump's comments as "appalling and unhinged".
Speaking to the crowd at the rally in South Carolina, Trump mentioned discussing Russia during a meeting with Nato leaders. He recalled a scenario where a leader of a "big country" faced an attack from Moscow due to financial obligations within NATO.
Trump mentioned rebuking the leader, stating he wouldn't protect them and urging them to fulfil their financial responsibilities. A White House spokesperson condemned Trump's remarks, stating that he was "encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes" and emphasizing the danger they posed to American national security, global stability, and the domestic economy.
Trump, considered the favourite to run again as the Republican candidate in the upcoming US presidential election, has long criticized NATO and the perceived financial burden it places on the United States.
Since his departure from office, he has expressed dissatisfaction with the amount of US aid sent to Ukraine, a non-Nato member, following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.
Despite significant financial support provided to Ukraine by the US, Republicans in Congress have blocked all new funding since the beginning of the year, citing demands for stricter measures to control migration across the southern border. Trump celebrated this rejection during the Saturday rally, labelling President Biden's proposals as "disastrous".
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