President Donald Trump yesterday questioned the United States' commitment to defending its NATO allies, suggesting there are "numerous" definitions of the key mutual defense provision on which the alliance is based.
Trump spoke to reporters on his way to a NATO summit in the Netherlands, a two-day gathering aimed at sending a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin that NATO is united, despite Trump's earlier criticisms, and determined to expand and improve its defense capabilities to deter a potential attack from Moscow.
However, when asked by reporters on the plane whether he remained committed to the principle of mutual defense among allies, as defined in NATO's Article 5, Trump replied:
"I'm dedicated to saving lives. I'm dedicated to life and safety. And I'll give you the exact definition when I get there."
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said there was no doubt that Trump was committed to Article 5 of the NATO Charter.
Trump also released a recording of a message from Rutte, in which he congratulated him on "decisive action in Iran" and on his success in getting all NATO members to agree to spend more on defense, Reuters reported.
"Europe will pay, and pay significantly and properly, and that will be your victory," Rutte's message said, which, according to Reuters, indicates his efforts to maintain Trump's favor and ensure the success of the summit.
Rutte later said he had no problem with Trump publishing his message and that he did not consider its tone inappropriate.
Trump particularly criticized Spain after Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Madrid did not have to meet the new spending target.
The summit and its final declaration will focus on meeting Trump's demand to spend five percent of GDP on defense, up from the current two percent. Members would spend 3,5 percent of GDP on "core defense," such as weapons and troops, and an additional 1,5 percent on security-related investments, such as adapting roads, ports, and bridges for military use, protecting gas pipelines, and preventing cyberattacks.
Trump is expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the summit. Zelensky said he wanted to discuss significant arms purchases, including Patriot missile systems. He stressed that Ukraine was prepared to provide the funds for the entire package itself, rather than seeking it as military aid. He listed a second request for discussion of additional sanctions against Russia, and a third would involve other diplomatic ways to increase pressure on Putin.
Zelensky yesterday warned European NATO members that they risk being attacked by Russia if it is not defeated in Ukraine.
"Russia is even planning new military operations on NATO territory - meaning in your countries," Zelensky said at an event dedicated to the defense industry on the sidelines of the summit, hours after Russian missiles killed at least 17 people in southeastern Ukraine.
Zelensky said it was essential for Ukraine to be at the forefront of drone technology, which has shaped the battlefield and developed at an astonishing rate during the 40 months of war.
The general nominated by Trump to be the top US military commander in Europe said yesterday that he believes Ukraine can win the war against the Russian invasion.
“I think Ukraine can win,” said U.S. Air Force Lieutenant General Alexus Grinkiewicz during his Senate confirmation hearing.
"When your own homeland is threatened, you fight with a ferocity that is hard for us to even imagine."
Russia accuses NATO of militarization
The Kremlin announced yesterday that NATO is on a path of uncontrolled militarization and is determined to portray Russia as a "monster from hell" in order to justify a large increase in defense spending by Alliance members.
Russia denies any plan to attack NATO, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was “largely a futile effort” to convince the alliance of that, as it is determined to demonize Russia.
“It is an alliance created for confrontation… It is not an instrument of peace and stability,” Peskov said, noting that NATO wants to force members to commit to spending five percent of their GDP on defense.
“The alliance is confidently moving down the path of uncontrolled militarization,” Peskov said. In order to push through the five percent target, NATO needed to invoke a demonic threat, he added.
"To achieve this, the image of a hellish monster, a monstrosity, must be created. And from the perspective of those NATO officials, our country is the most suitable for the role of that monster."
NATO states that its view of Russia is realistic and based on evidence of the war that Moscow started in Ukraine in February 2022.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused NATO yesterday of stepping outside its traditional area of responsibility in an attempt to gain a foothold in the Middle East, the South Caucasus, Central Asia, the Arctic and the Asia-Pacific region.
He also said that Russia-China relations are "an important factor of stability" in the security architecture of Eurasia.
NATO chief Rutte stated that the American leadership is committed to NATO, but added that this commitment is also expected from European countries and Canada, through increased defense spending.
The former Dutch Prime Minister underlined the importance of transatlantic cooperation in the field of defense industry in order to respond to the challenges of rearmament.
"Today, NATO's military advantage is being aggressively challenged by Russia, which is rapidly arming itself, supported by Chinese technology and weapons from Iran and North Korea," Rute said.
"Only Europe and North America together can meet the challenge of rearmament."
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