Trump says he wouldn't defend NATO allies from Russia if they're 'delinquent'

CONWAY, S.C. – Former President Donald Trump said America would not defend NATO allies against Russia if they did not meet his definition of contributing enough defense spending, threatening to upend the alliance if elected president again in 2024.

Trump has long criticized defense spending by other NATO member countries and has long falsely suggested there are unpaid balances owed by allies, but Saturday's remarks during a campaign rally in Conway, S.C., went a step further as he suggested Russia should attack allies that are "delinquent" with contributions.

"If we don't pay and we're attacked by Russia, will you protect us?," Trump recalled another country's leader asking while him while he was president. "No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want."

He also suggested that "hundreds of billions" came into NATO after his threats, though NATO spending was on the rise before he took office in 2016.

After Russia annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, NATO countries pledged to move toward spending 2% of their gross domestic product on defense by 2024. According to data released in July 2023, only 11 of the 31 member countries have hit that target, with the United States contributing 3.49% of its GDP. France, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Albania, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Czechia, Portugal, Italy, Canada, Slovenia, Turkey, Spain, Belgium and Luxembourg have not met the target. Finland, NATO's newest member, spends over 2% of its GDP on defense as does Sweden, which is expected to join shortly.

In response, the White House called Trump's remarks "unhinged" and said under President Joe Biden, NATO is "the largest and most