President Trump is questioning NATO solidarity despite the fact that the US has helped after September 11

Washington – President Donald Trump On Thursday, he expressed the uncertainty that NATO will come in the US defense if the country was attacked, although the Alliance only did this after September 11 – the only time in its history was invoked the defense guarantee.

Trump also suggested that the US could abandon its commitments to the Alliance if the member countries do not meet the defense expense goals, one day after its choice for NATO ambassador Insured senators that the commitment of the administration to the military alliance was “ironclad”.

Trump’s comments Denigration NATO, which was formed to counteract Soviet aggression during the Cold War, are largely in accordance with its criticisms several times on the Alliance, which he accused Does not pay the correct share To the cost of defense. But come in a moment of increased concern in the Western world on Trump’s comfortable relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putinwho has long seen NATO as a threat and as president of the USA seek to press Ukraine To agree with a peace agreement with the country that invaded it three years ago.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth sent the alliance to disorders Last month, when he said in a speech that the US will not participate in any peacekeeping force in Ukraine, who is not a member of NATO and would not defend any country that participated in it if it is attacked by Russia.

Trump said on Thursday in the Oval Office that other countries will not come in US defense – although they did exactly, in the only case in which the guarantee of article 5 was invoked.

“Do you know the biggest problem I have with NATO? I really mean, I know the boys very well. They are friends of me. But if the United States had problems and I called them, I said: “We have a problem, France. We have a problem with a few others that I will not mention. Do you think they will come to protect us? Must be. I’m not so sure. “

Article 5 was invoked after the attacks of September 11, 2001, which led to the largest NATO operation in Afghanistan. The army of France participated in the operation.

When asked on Thursday, if he would make the US policy that the US will not defend NATO countries that do not meet the targets of military spending, the president replied: “Well, I think it is common sense, right? If I do not pay, I will not defend them. No, he won’t defend them. “

Trump suggested from his presidential campaign in 2016 that the US under his leadership could not respect the alliance’s mutual defense guarantees and only defend the countries that have fulfilled targets for 2% of their gross domestic products.

The US is the strongest nation of the seven decades, has the largest economy among members and spends more in defense than any other member.

The US was one of the 12 nations that formed NATO following the -World War II to counteract the threat represented by the Soviet Union to Western Europe during the Cold War. Since then, the membership has increased in 32 countries, and its mutual defense guarantee, known as Article 5, states that an attack on a member is considered an attack on all.

Trump seemed to suggest that US commitment to NATO could be used in its commercial war, as it is trying to target what they are unfair trade policies with other nations, including the European Union.

“I consider NATO to be potentially good, but you have to get, you have to think well in NATO. It’s very unfair, which happened, “Trump said.” Until I came, I paid almost 100% of NATO. So you think about it, we pay 100% of their army and screw us up. “

On Wednesday, Trump’s choice for Ambassador NATO, Matt Whitaker, said, during his confirmation hearing, that in terms of US commitment to NATO Alliance and in particular Article 5, “will be ironclad.”

Last year, NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said that a 23 record of the 32 NATO member nations achieved the defense expenses of the military alliance.

Trump has taken credit for the countries that meet these targets because of his threats, and Stoltenberg himself said Trump was responsible for other nations to increase his expenses.