NATO “cannot be an alliance a la carte,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has said after former US president Donald Trump downplayed his commitment to NATO’s security umbrella in Europe if he becomes president again.
Mr Trump ignited a political firestorm and sent a chill through the United States’ European allies on Saturday when he said he would “encourage” Russia to attack any NATO country that does not meet financial obligations.
“Let’s be serious. NATO cannot be an a la carte military alliance, it cannot be a military alliance that works depending on the humour of the president of the US” day to day, Mr Borrell said.
“It exists or it not exists,” he said, adding that he was not going to keep commenting on “any silly idea” emerging from the US presidential election campaign.
The words from Mr Trump – who, when in power, pulled America out of an international pact designed to curb Iran’s nuclear programme, and the Paris climate accord – prompted a broadside from current US President Joe Biden.
Mr Biden called Mr Trump’s comments “appalling and dangerous”.
Mr Trump, 77, is all but assured the Republican nomination for the White House in the November vote against Biden, 81.
