Former President Donald Trump said that he would keep the U.S. in the NATO alliance if reelected so long as the members “play fair,” according to GB News.
Trump has clashed with members of NATO before over their failure to meet the minimum defense spending goal, which is set at 2% of total gross domestic product (GDP). Trump told British broadcaster and former politician Nigel Farage during an interview to be released Tuesday that he would commit to protecting the other NATO members —so long as they pay up — but bemoaned that they have historically been “unfair” in dealing with the U.S. (RELATED: NATO Members Suddenly Poised To Meet Military Spending Targets Days After Trump Railed Against Alliance)
“NATO has to treat the U.S. fairly, because if it’s not for the United States, NATO literally doesn’t even exist,” Trump told Farage, according to a clip of the interview. “But they took advantage of us — like most countries do.”
Farage asked Trump if the relationship would be different if the NATO partners started “to pay their bills properly and the club is fair.”
‘If they start to play fair, America’s there?’
‘Yes, 100%.’
Donald Trump has said America WILL stay in Nato if he wins at the polls and members pay their fair share.
Watch @Nigel_Farage‘s full interview tonight from 7pm, only on GB News. pic.twitter.com/64V7EuljzR
— GB News (@GBNEWS) March 19, 2024
“Yeah, but you know, the United States should pay its fair share, not everybody else’s fair share. I believe the United States was paying 90% of the cost of NATO, it could be 100%. It was the most unfair thing,” Trump responded. “And don’t forget — it’s more important to them than it is to us. We have an ocean in between some problems, we have a nice, big, beautiful ocean.”
“It’s more important for them. They were taking advantage … of us on trade and they took advantage on the military,” Trump said.
Farage then pressed Trump on whether he would protect the other NATO members so long as members hit their spending targets.
“Yes. 100%. 100%,” Trump responded.
During his tenure, Trump warned the other NATO members he would pull the U.S. out of the alliance if they did not meet their spending goals.
“There’s a lot of talk about [Trump]… What is the best way to handle a future President Trump?” one senior NATO diplomat said, according to The Financial Times. “Basically a combination of flattery and a firm hand.”
Trump’s comments come on the heels of a rally he held in South Carolina in February, in which he announced to a crowd he would tell Russia to “do whatever the hell” it wants if NATO members don’t meet their spending goals.
“NATO was busted until I came along,” Trump said at the rally. “I said, ‘Everybody’s gonna pay.’ They said, ‘Well, if we don’t pay, are you still going to protect us?’ I said, ‘Absolutely not.’ They couldn’t believe the answer.”
“One of the presidents of a big country, he stood up, he 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 … no I would not protect you, in fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want,” Trump said.
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