Former U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm of criticism after suggesting that he would "encourage" Russia to attack any NATO allies he deemed to have fallen short on their financial obligations. The remarks, reported by the Guardian, drew swift condemnation from the Biden White House and political commentators across the spectrum.
In response to Trump's comments, the White House issued a statement rebuking the former president's stance, calling it "appalling and unhinged" and warning that it "endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home."
However, some attempted to downplay the significance of Trump's remarks. Florida's Republican senator, Marco Rubio, sought to contextualize Trump's comments, emphasizing that Trump was recounting events from his presidency and highlighting Trump's non-traditional communication style. Rubio pointed out that Trump's approach to NATO involved leveraging financial pressure to encourage member states to meet their defense spending commitments.
Trump's comments come at a time of heightened tension between NATO allies and Russia, particularly in light of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. NATO members agreed in 2014 to increase defense spending to 2% of their GDPs by 2024, but as of 2022, only seven of the 31 NATO member countries were meeting this obligation. Trump's remarks have reignited debate over the importance of NATO solidarity and the role of the United States in defending its allies.
Meanwhile, Trump's remarks on the U.S.-Mexico border and migration crisis also drew attention. He celebrated the collapse of congressional legislation aimed at addressing the migration crisis, vowing to carry out "a massive deportation operation" if re-elected.
Earlier Daryo reported that Putin expressed disappointment over Russia's post-Soviet hopes of integration into the community of "civilized nations," highlighting NATO's eastward expansion despite assurances to the contrary. Reflecting on Russia's support for Serbia during the Yugoslav conflict, Putin criticized the unilateral bombing of Belgrade by the United States, which he viewed as a breach of international law.
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