Storm after Trump hints: I’d abandon Nato allies in peril
DonalD Trump threatened the future of nato yesterday as he insisted that if he became president he would not necessarily defend member countries from an attack by Russia. Mr Trump, who has put a principle of ‘america first’ as the core of his foreign policy, shocked allies and prompted claims that his presidency could usher in World War III.
The principle that an attack on one nato member is an attack on all 28 is the alliance’s core tenet and has been credited with keeping the peace since 1949. But Mr Trump told the new York Times: ‘We are going to take care of this country first... before we worry about everyone else in the world.’
Mr Trump also expressed little willingness to speak out against purges or civil rights crackdowns by authoritarian allies such as Turkey.
His incendiary comments on nato, ahead of accepting the Republican presidential nomination at the party’s convention in Cleveland last night, were widely perceived as his most dangerous policy idea so far.
Mr Trump who has pledged to make economic gain a guiding principle of US foreign policy, was asked about Russia’s recent aggressive activities in the Baltic.
The tycoon, who has praised President Vladimir Putin, said that if Russia attacked latvia, lithuania or Estonia – or indeed any other nato ally – he would first review whether they ‘have fulfilled their obligations to us’ before coming to their aid. asked about the importance of US global leadership in the wake of the Second World War, Trump replied: ‘How is it helping us?
It is thought to be the first time a major presidential candidate has suggested that the US might not automatically support attacked nato allies.
Mr Trump has previously threatened to withdraw US forces from Europe and asia if allies there refuse to pay for protection.
nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said: ‘Solidarity among allies is a key value for nato. Two world wars have shown that peace in Europe is also important for the security of the United States.’ Beyza Unal, of london-based think tank Chatham House, said that by ignoring a cornerstone of the treaty, Mr Trump ‘would endanger the whole alliance’.
Estonian president Toomas Hendrik Ilves insisted: ‘We are equally committed to all our nato allies, regardless of who they may be.’
Democrats leapt on Trump’s remarks as evidence he is ‘temperamentally unfit’ for office. Jake Sullivan, a senior Clinton policy adviser, said ‘The president is supposed to be the leader of the free world. Donald Trump apparently doesn’t even believe in the free world. It is fair to assume that Vladimir Putin is rooting for a Trump presidency.’
Meanwhile beaten Republican candidate Ted Cruz has refused to endorse Mr Trump for president. He said he has not forgiven his rival for insulting his wife and father during their vicious election battle.
Mr Cruz prompted furious booing at the convention and a delegate had to be restrained from attacking him.
Some saw his humiliation of Mr Trump as an attempt to strengthen his presidential chances in 2020.
Mr Trump was caught in an awkward moment with his vice-presidential running mate Mike Pence yesterday as an attempt to greet him on stage turned into an air kiss.
Mr Trump patted Mr Pence, the Christian conservative governor of Indiana, on the back but his apparent effort to plant a kiss on his forehead missed. Commentators believe Mr Pence either did not notice the attempt at intimacy... or considered it inappropriate.
Max Hastings – Page 15
‘Endangering the alliance’