Trump Questions NATO's Commitment to Defend United States

5 days ago 5

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Donald Trump on Tuesday questioned whether NATO would back the United States if it called on the military alliance.

"The big fear I have with NATO is that we spend tremendous amounts of money with and I know we will come their rescue and I just really question whether or not they will come to ours," Trump said at the White House press room while speaking about the accomplishments of his first year back in power.

His assessment comes despite NATO's collective defense agreement, known as Article 5, which states that an attack against one member shall be considered an attack against all.

Article 5 has only been triggered once, after the September 11, 2001, terror attacks on the U.S., when all its allies positively responded.

The remarks also come as Trump is pushing for control of Greenland from fellow NATO member Denmark, raising fears of a rift that could destabilize the alliance.

Trump says he has saved NATO from 'ash heap of history'

Trump claimed NATO "would have been in the ash heap of History," if it were not for him.

In a post on his Truth Social network, he also claimed no president—or person—did more for the military alliance.

Trump's push for US control over Greenland, a territory of fellow NATO member Denmark, has prompted warnings that such a move could end the alliance that has underpinned Western security for decades.

Anders Fogh Rasmussen warned the time for "flattering" the U.S. leader was over.

"It's really the future of NATO that is at stake," said Rasmussen, a former leader of both ‌Denmark and NATO.

"The time for flattering is over. It doesn't work. The fact is, Trump only respects force and strength. And unity. That's exactly what Europe should demonstrate right now," he told Reuters news agency at the ‍World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Trump forced to swap planes on way to Davos

Meanwhile, Trump's Air Force One landed safely at an air base near Washington to change aircraft on Tuesday night, after crew on his initial flight identified "a minor electrical issue" shortly ‌after takeoff.

The Davos-bound trip is to continue ‌on a new aircraft, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

A reporter on board the plane said the lights in the press cabin of the aircraft went out briefly after takeoff, but no explanation was immediately offered, the Associated Press reported.

About half an hour into the flight, reporters were told the plane would be turning around.

Trump is ‍traveling to join other world leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Read: Scholar: Trump's Greenland Ambition Is Dangerous for Global Order

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