Trump defiant after backlash over NATO remarks

Former U.S. President Donald Trump defended his North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) record on Monday, saying he had made it "strong" after sparking a firestorm of criticism over comments downplaying his commitment to the alliance. 

"I made NATO strong, and even the 'Rinos' and Radical Left Democrats admit that," Trump said on Truth Social, using an acronym deployed by conservatives for critics within their own party: Republicans In Name Only.

Trump raised a storm of criticism from the White House and top Western officials for suggesting he would not defend NATO allies who failed to spend enough on defense and would even encourage Russia to attack them.

The failure of many of NATO's 31 members to meet a defense spending target of at least 2 percent of gross domestic product has long been a source of tension with the United States, whose armed forces form the core of the alliance's military power. NATO estimates have shown that only 11 members spend at the target level.

What did Trump say about NATO?

As U.S. president from 2017-21, Trump often lambasted NATO and members such as Germany, accusing them of not paying enough for their own defense and relying on Washington to protect them. He openly questioned the collective defense principle enshrined in NATO's founding treaty – the idea that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all of them.

Other U.S. administrations have also accused Europeans of not spending enough on defense, but in less strident terms.

Trump took his criticism to a new level at a campaign rally on Saturday in Conway, South Carolina, when he recounted what he said was a conversation with the "president of a big country."

"Well sir, if we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia – will you protect us?" Trump quoted the unnamed leader as saying.

"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 (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay," Trump said.

Backlash from inside

The NATO remarks prompted rebukes from the White House, as well as from some Republicans and other top Western officials.

U.S. President Joe Biden slammed the comments as "appalling and dangerous," warning that his predecessor, who is running for re-election, intended to give Russian leader Vladimir Putin "a green light for more war and violence."

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said in a statement on Saturday night that encouraging invasions of our closest allies "endangers American national security, global stability and our economy at home."

Some of Trump's fellow Republicans on Sunday lashed out at him. "This is why I've been saying for a long time that he's unfit to be president of the United States," former Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie said in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" program.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump's, told Reuters in a brief hallway interview that he disagreed "with the way he (Trump) said it," referring to the NATO remarks.

Some Republicans defended Trump. "Virtually every American president at some point, in some way, has complained about other countries in NATO not doing enough. Trump's just the first one to express it in these terms. But I have zero concern because he's been president before," Senator Marco Rubio said. 

Criticism from NATO and EU

European leaders criticized Trump's comments and have called for greater unity and military cooperation across the continent.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said NATO "remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on NATO will be met with a united and forceful response."

Stoltenberg cautioned that "any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the U.S., and puts American and European soldiers at increased risk."

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday criticized Trump for his recent NATO remarks.

"Let me clearly say due to recent developments that any relativizing of NATO's collective defense guarantee is irresponsible and dangerous and is only in Russia's interests," Scholz said after talks with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk in Berlin.

Tusk said on a visit to Paris on Monday that there was "no alternative" to the EU and the transatlantic alliance before a summit where he discussed deepening defense relationships with the French president, Emmanuel Macron.

Polish Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz also criticized Trump. "NATO's motto 'one for all, all for one' is a concrete commitment. Undermining the credibility of allied countries means weakening the entire NATO," he wrote on X. 

Europe needs another "life insurance" policy in addition to NATO, France's foreign minister said on Monday, following Trump's comments.

"Yes, we need a second life insurance, not in substitution to or against NATO but in addition" to the alliance, Stephane Sejourne said alongside his German and Polish counterparts.

(With input from agencies)