Trump’s NATO jibe won’t be a surprise for Europe — but it could spell a reckoning

LONDON — Top European officials say they are alarmed at Donald Trump saying he would not necessarily protect NATO allies — but the former president’s words will not have come as a surprise.

In fact, many staunch Trump critics agree with his central point, that members of the military alliance set up in the wake of World War II to defend against the then-Soviet Union need to up their defense spending.

Now, Europe must make a decision, according to some experts: Hope American protection endures, or bolster its own withered military forces that on their own would likely be ill equipped to repel a Russian attack.

“The Europeans have to keep on waking up to the strategic reality that Europe might have to defend itself without its primary guarantor, which is the United States,” said Fabrice Pothier, former head of policy planning for two NATO secretaries general, including incumbent Jens Stoltenberg.

Europe “cannot completely replace the U.S. deterrent, because this is the No. 1 global military power,” said Pothier, now CEO of Rasmussen Global, a European political consultancy. But “we have to have enough deterrence of our own so we’re not caught with our trousers down.”

The renewed concern comes after Trump told a South Carolina rally Saturday that he would encourage Russia to “do whatever the hell they want” to any NATO country that didn’t pay enough for defense.

The European rebuke to Trump’s latest remarks has been swift.

Stoltenberg said it “undermines all of our security” and “puts American and European soldiers at increased risk.”

The “reckless” statement would “serve only Putin’s interest,” Charles Michel, president of the European Council, said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While the European