Former President Donald Trump stirred controversy on Saturday as he revived a long-running critique of NATO over how much its member nations contribute financially to the alliance, alluding to his hardball negotiation tactics with other world leaders on the subject.
During an event in South Carolina, Trump spoke of how NATO, which has a 2% minimum GDP defense investment guideline for members, was “busted” until he got allied countries to increase their spending under pressure to do more to assist the United States in propping up the collective.
“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well sir, if we don’t pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’ I said, you didn’t pay? You’re delinquent? He said, ‘Yes, let’s say that happened.’ No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You…
