During campaign remarks in Conway, South Carolina, Donald Trump says as president he warned NATO allies that he would tell Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that had not met the alliance’s financial commitments.
The foundation of nato is the unequivocal promise that members will militarily protect each other from outside aggressors.
I am actually not in disagreement with you that Europe needs to up its commitments and improve their own forces, but the simple idea on the table that this promise is not unconditional is extremely dangerous. It undermines the trust that must exist, what good is an ally if they will betray you when it suits them?
Any other measure america could have taken to encourage more financial commitment from the other nations would have been more appropriate than this. Backroom threats of economic sanctions or treaty dismissals for example. But certainly not opening up the possibility that america is not a reliable ally.
The foundation of nato is the unequivocal promise that members will militarily protect each other from outside aggressors.
I am actually not in disagreement with you that Europe needs to up its commitments and improve their own forces, but the simple idea on the table that this promise is not unconditional is extremely dangerous. It undermines the trust that must exist, what good is an ally if they will betray you when it suits them?
Any other measure america could have taken to encourage more financial commitment from the other nations would have been more appropriate than this. Backroom threats of economic sanctions or treaty dismissals for example. But certainly not opening up the possibility that america is not a reliable ally.
This isn’t strengthening the alliance.