Trump: US may not defend NATO allies against Russian attack

[Skjellyfetti]

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sent alarm rippling through Eastern Europe after he said the U.S. would only defend NATO states attacked by Russia if those nations “have fulfilled their obligations to us,” his strongest comments to date on the military alliance’s future if he enters the White House.

In an interview with the New York Times on Wednesday, the billionaire cast doubt on whether he would automatically extend the security guarantees that give the 28 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization the assurance that they have U.S. military support in the event of an attack. He specifically referred to the three small Baltic states which share borders with Russia.

Trump’s remarks are “both dangerous and irresponsible,” Ojars Kalnins, who chairs the foreign affairs committee in Latvia’s parliament, said in an interview with Latvian radio Thursday. “This won’t be good for NATO unity or the security situation. In principle, he is saying the U.S. will not fulfil its promises or obligations.”

The candidate’s readiness to reject a decades-long commitment to defend allies deepens his criticism of NATO after he called it “obsolete” in April while campaigning for the nomination. Trump’s comments come less than two weeks after the NATO summit in Warsaw agreed to enhance deployment of forces in Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia as a deterrent following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... k-iqvw8gki

[ASUG8]

[CID1990]

That couldn't be a more appropriate response.


NATO is a dead man walking anyway and it has nothing to do with Trump or his silly comments.

[andy7171]

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

[ASUG8]

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

If we throw out Geneva Convention we can kick ISIS' ass within a month.

[SDHornet]

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

This.

[CAA Flagship]

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump sent alarm rippling through Eastern Europe after he said the U.S. would only defend NATO states attacked by Russia if those nations “have fulfilled their obligations to us,” his strongest comments to date on the military alliance’s future if he enters the White House.

In an interview with the New York Times on Wednesday, the billionaire cast doubt on whether he would automatically extend the security guarantees that give the 28 members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization the assurance that they have U.S. military support in the event of an attack. He specifically referred to the three small Baltic states which share borders with Russia.

Trump’s remarks are “both dangerous and irresponsible,” Ojars Kalnins, who chairs the foreign affairs committee in Latvia’s parliament, said in an interview with Latvian radio Thursday. “This won’t be good for NATO unity or the security situation. In principle, he is saying the U.S. will not fulfil its promises or obligations.”

The candidate’s readiness to reject a decades-long commitment to defend allies deepens his criticism of NATO after he called it “obsolete” in April while campaigning for the nomination. Trump’s comments come less than two weeks after the NATO summit in Warsaw agreed to enhance deployment of forces in Poland, Lithuania, Estonia and Latvia as a deterrent following Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... k-iqvw8gki

Put down the vodka, Latvia, and build up your own defenses.

[Ivytalk]

A treaty is a treaty*, and the U.S. should either live up to its obligations or try to renegotiate it. But, then, international relations was never Trump's strong suit. Come to think of it, Trump doesn't have a strong suit.

*except for the "Iran deal"

[SDHornet]

A treaty is a treaty*, and the U.S. should either live up to its obligations or try to renegotiate it. But, then, international relations was never Trump's strong suit. Come to think of it, Trump doesn't have a strong suit.

*except for the "Iran deal"

Normally I agree, but in this case doesn't NATO "recommend" that countries spend X% (heard it was something like 3%) of GDP on defense? Also heard very few actually pony up 2%, and they reluctantly do so. In those such cases, we should give them fair warning that we won't pick up their slack.

[Ibanez]

Meanwhile...if Clinton were to be interviewed we might have some idea of what she'd say.


But she avoids the press.

[CAA Flagship]

A treaty is a treaty*, and the U.S. should either live up to its obligations or try to renegotiate it. But, then, international relations was never Trump's strong suit. Come to think of it, Trump doesn't have a strong suit.

*except for the "Iran deal"

Normally I agree, but in this case doesn't NATO "recommend" that countries spend X% (heard it was something like 3%) of GDP on defense? Also heard very few actually pony up 2%, and they reluctantly do so. In those such cases, we should give them fair warning that we won't pick up their slack.

This.

[andy7171]

Meanwhile...if Clinton were to be interviewed we might have some idea of what she'd say.


But she avoids the press.

She's above that.

[Skjellyfetti]

Not surprised that many on here that say that Putin runs circles around Obama, etc. are on here defending Trump on this position. This is Putin's wet dream.

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

Estonia is where the biggest threat from Russia is.

Estonia contributes 2.1%. Estonia sends troops to Afghanistan.

They meet their obligations.

[andy7171]

Not surprised that many on here that say that Putin runs circles around Obama, etc. are on here defending Trump on this position. This is Putin's wet dream.

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

Estonia is where the biggest threat from Russia is.

Estonia contributes 2.1%. Estonia sends troops to Afghanistan.

They meet their obligations.

Then, defend the fuck out of them. What's the problem?

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

If we throw out Geneva Convention we can kick ISIS' ass within a month.

They have, play by the rules of your enemy......or lose

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Not surprised that many on here that say that Putin runs circles around Obama, etc. are on here defending Trump on this position. This is Putin's wet dream.

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

Estonia is where the biggest threat from Russia is.

Estonia contributes 2.1%. Estonia sends troops to Afghanistan.

They meet their obligations.

Obama is a pussy, he looks like one, is built like one and acts like one.

Never has a so called "leader" looked less like a man and just a weak bitch so often.

Its nature so stop the nurture.

[Skjellyfetti]

Not surprised that many on here that say that Putin runs circles around Obama, etc. are on here defending Trump on this position. This is Putin's wet dream.





Estonia is where the biggest threat from Russia is.

Estonia contributes 2.1%. Estonia sends troops to Afghanistan.

They meet their obligations.

Then, defend the fuck out of them. What's the problem?

And, the moment that drops to 1.99%?

[andy7171]

Not surprised that many on here that say that Putin runs circles around Obama, etc. are on here defending Trump on this position. This is Putin's wet dream.





Estonia is where the biggest threat from Russia is.

Estonia contributes 2.1%. Estonia sends troops to Afghanistan.

They meet their obligations.

Obama is a pussy, he looks like one, is built like one and acts like one.

Never has a so called "leader" looked less like a man and just a weak bitch so often.

Its nature so stop the nurture.

[ASUG8]

Then, defend the fuck out of them. What's the problem?

And, the moment that drops to 1.99%?

Like Ivy said, a treaty is a treaty. Both parties hold up their end.

[andy7171]

Then, defend the fuck out of them. What's the problem?

And, the moment that drops to 1.99%?

I'd go with a 0.1% window. Estonia isn't the problem. The fucking Germans are.

[Baldy]

Not surprised that many on here that say that Putin runs circles around Obama, etc. are on here defending Trump on this position. This is Putin's wet dream.

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

Estonia is where the biggest threat from Russia is.

Estonia contributes 2.1%. Estonia sends troops to Afghanistan.

They meet their obligations.

jelly, the convenient Conk.

[CID1990]

NATO membership for the Baltic States is one of the main reasons Russia is showing its ass to begin with. Bringing in the former Soviet states was a foreign policy mistake in the first place.

First we didn't hold the original members to their end of the bargain (that goes back into the 80s), and then we courted backwater basket cases like Ukraine and Georgia - and any Russia scholar will tell you that would be seen as directly antagonistic

But we are where we are now - and Putin knows exactly how to kill NATO. Trump is only pointing out a reality that has existed for at least 15 years now- .......... we will NOT get into a shooting war with Russia over countries with the GDP of Wyoming.

But by all means let's hyperexamine the latest shiny object from Trump

[CAA Flagship]

Not surprised that many on here that say that Putin runs circles around Obama, etc. are on here defending Trump on this position. This is Putin's wet dream.

If they don't hold up their end of the treaty, why should we?

The time for us to end being the world police is over.

Estonia is where the biggest threat from Russia is.

Estonia contributes 2.1%. Estonia sends troops to Afghanistan.

They meet their obligations.

Trump is just saying that to point out their failures to live up to their end of the agreement. I doubt he would not order a response. But it's time for them to step up.

[andy7171]

But by all means let's hyperexamine the latest shiny object from Trump

Which is the whole point of this thread.

[HI54UNI]

But how will those wonderful socialist paradise countries fund their fair share of defense and maintain their wonderfulness?