Trump alarms Nato allies
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REPUBLICAN presidential nominee Donald Trump’s suggestion that the United States might abandon its North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) commitments has upended decades of American foreign policy dogma and doctrine. It has created a domestic furore and fuelled angst not only across Europe but in Asia, where his complaints about allies not paying their own way have also resonated.
Trump’s mere musing that he would review allies’ financial contributions — in this case those owed by Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — before acting under Nato’s Article 5 mutual defence clause if they were attacked by Russia could rock the foundations of the security architecture that has underpinned European stability since the end of World War 2. That possibility, and the global instability that would likely follow, is not something Nato leaders or their nervous citizens will countenance lightly, particularly since they responded, without question, under Article 5 when the US was attacked on Sept 11, 2001.
US administrations have complained, often bitterly, that many Nato members were not footing their share of the alliance’s bills. The US accounts for more than 70 per cent of Nato defence spending. Only four other allies — Britain, Estonia, Greece and Poland — meet the minimum two per cent of gross domestic product on defence. But Trump’s floating the idea that that spending target would be a prerequisite for the US to defend them is an abrupt break for the most powerful member of Nato, which styles itself as the most successful military alliance in world history.
Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves noted in a tweet that Estonia “fought, with no caveats”, on behalf of the US in Afghanistan.
In 2002, the only time Article 5 has
in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, on Thursday.
COMMENTS SPARK FIREWORKS: He says US may not defend members who fail to meet their obligations
ever been invoked, Nato surveillance planes patrolled American skies and deployed a third of the troops in Afghanistan for a decade. More than 1,000 non-American troops died in Afghanistan.
“We are equally committed to all our Nato allies, regardless of who they may be. That’s what makes them allies,” Ilves tweeted.
Some European leaders sought to calm the furore.
“Regardless of who will be the president of America, we will trust in America,” Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite said in Vilnius in remarks that were echoed by Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka.
“The United States always stood with nations which were under attack and it will continue doing so,” he said.
Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg said “solidarity among allies is a key value for Nato”, a stand that “is good for European security and good for US security”.
“The US has always stood by its European allies. Now the US is stepping up its support once again, and increasing its presence,” he said.
The US placed troops recently in Poland. Yet, analysts and citizens throughout Eastern Europe, where fear of Russia runs high, expressed deep concern, notably since just two weeks ago Nato leaders reaffirmed that they “stand together, and act together, to ensure the defence of our territory and populations, and of our common values”.
Poles were alarmed. “His words were irresponsible and they inspired fear in me. I’m worried about the world’s future, about Poland’s future,” said 39-year-old schoolteacher Lidia Zagorowska.
“If I were a US citizen I would never ever vote for Trump. Let that be my answer,” said Katarzyna Woznicka, 54, walking her dog in downtown Warsaw.
Others dismissed it as political rhetoric. Back in the US, the outcry from politicians, including some of Trump’s fellow Republicans, was blistering. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said he disagreed with the statement but was willing to “chalk it up to a rookie mistake”.
Former presidential contender, Senator for South Carolina Lindsey Graham, said Trump’s remarks “make the world more dangerous and the United States less safe. I’m 100 per cent certain how Russian President (Vladimir) Putin feels. He’s a very happy man”. AP