CONWAY, S.C. — Former president Donald Trump made bold statements about NATO during a rally at Coastal Carolina University on Saturday. He suggested that, in a hypothetical scenario, he would not protect a country that failed to meet its defense spending commitments to the alliance, and even went as far as saying he would encourage Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to such countries.
Trump’s remarks come at a time when the GOP is debating whether to provide additional foreign aid to Ukraine, which is engaged in a conflict with Russia. The Senate is considering legislation to give $60 billion to Ukraine, while House Republicans have expressed skepticism about the idea.
Since 2006, NATO members have been encouraged to spend at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on defense spending by 2024. A majority of member countries have either met or come close to this goal as of 2023, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Trump’s stance on NATO’s financial obligations has been met with criticism by experts, who argue that his opposition to collective security among member nations is misguided.
The former president has a history of being skeptical about NATO, and even suggested withdrawing from the alliance. His skepticism has led him to express doubt about the commitment of other countries in the event of a Russian attack.
However, such sentiments have drawn criticism from various NATO partnership experts, who argue that the U.S. investment in NATO is crucial for national security interests and maintaining global stability.
In addition to his remarks about NATO, Trump’s rally in South Carolina also saw him making comments targeting former U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley, who is set to face him in the state’s upcoming primary. Trump’s visit to South Carolina comes at a time when he maintains a lead in the polls over Haley. His attack on Haley’s husband, who is currently deployed overseas, has only added to the tension between the two potential rivals.
Haley, in response, challenged Trump to a debate and continued to criticize him at her own events throughout the state on Saturday. The primary in South Carolina is scheduled for Feb. 24, and the clash between Trump and Haley is likely to attract significant attention in the coming weeks.