Trump scolds Nato allies, warns of more terrorism
US President Donald Trump on Thursday intensified his accusations that Nato allies were not spending enough on defence and said more attacks such as this week’s bombing in Manchester would take place unless the alliance did more to stop militants.
In unexpectedly abrupt remarks as Nato leaders stood alongside him, Trump also said certain member countries owed “massive amounts of money” to the US and Nato.
His scripted comments contrasted with Nato’s choreographed efforts to play up the West’s unity by inviting Trump to unveil a memorial to the September 11, 2001 attacks on the US at the new Nato headquarters.
“We will never waver in our determination to defeat terrorism and achieve lasting security, prosperity and peace,” Trump said in the speech before a dinner with leaders. “Terrorism must be stopped or...the horror you saw in Manchester and so many other places will continue forever,” Trump said.
Trump called on Nato to include limiting immigration in its tasks as well as fighting terrorism and deterring Russia.
Nato leaders wanted Trump to publicly support the military alliance that he had called “obsolete” during his campaign. But he instead returned to an old grievance about Europe’s drop in defence spending since the end of the Cold War.
“Twenty-three of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying for their defence,” Trump said, standing by a piece of the wreckage of the Twin Towers.
“This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States, and many of these nations
owe massive amounts of money from past years,” Trump said .
A White House official insisted Trump, by being a member of the alliance, supported Nato’s collective defence clause.