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NY Times: Donald Trump’s Remarks Rattle NATO Allies🇺🇸 Donald J. Trump’s statement that the United States might not come to the defense of NATO allies that do not foot their share of the bill fueled anxiety on Thursday in a Europe that is already deeply unsettled about Russia’s assertive posture, Britain’s decision to withdraw from the European Union and the rise of inward-looking populist and nationalist parties.
In an interview with The New York Times, Mr. Trump suggested that if elected president he would use a country’s level of military spending as a factor in deciding whether the United States would honor its commitment to defend any member nation that comes under attack… Mr. Trump more explicitly linked financial considerations to the strategic response he would order as president in the event of an attack by Russia.
His comments left some European officials concerned that the United States under Mr. Trump would edge away from the security guarantees that Washington has provided to the Continent since World War II… Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s secretary general and a former prime minister of Norway, said that he “will not interfere in the U.S. election campaign,” but made clear that he was alarmed by Mr. Trump’s remarks.
xNATO fires back after Donald Trump questions value of defending allies https://t.co/Qo03dhuiNH
— Capital Journal (@WSJPolitics) July 21, 2016.