NATO Chief Rushes To Counter Trump’s Waffling On Security Guarantees

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. NATO and Russia remain at loggerheads over Ukraine but will consider a prop... NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a news conference at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Wednesday, July 13, 2016. NATO and Russia remain at loggerheads over Ukraine but will consider a proposal to reduce the risk of an accidental military confrontation in Baltic airspace, NATO's chief said Wednesday. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) MORE LESS
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The head of NATO was forced to offer public assurances that the alliance remains firmly committed to its mission after Donald Trump expressed hesitance on Wednesday that the United States would honor NATO’s security guarantees to its member countries.

“Solidarity among allies is a key value for NATO. This is good for European security and good for US security. We defend one another,” NATO Secretary General‎ Jens Stoltenberg told BuzzFeed News in an interview published on Thursday.

“Two world wars have shown that peace in Europe is also important for the security of the United States,” he added.

Stoltenberg’s comments come after Trump gave a troubling interview to the New York Times on Wednesday, suggesting that he was not willing to help all NATO nations in need.

When asked if he would assist the Baltic states that have recently joined NATO in combatting Russian aggression, Trump said he would help only after assessing whether those countries “have fulfilled their obligations to us.”

Trump’s comments could embolden Putin’s Russia, cause distress among America’s European allies, and undermine the careful decades-long work of forging a lasting European peace. They come after the Trump campaign worked to soften language in the 2016 Republican platform about helping Ukraine fight Russian forces. The platform will not call for the U.S. to supply arms to Ukraine, despite broad support among Republicans for helping Ukraine fight Russian forces if necessary.

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Notable Replies

  1. Yet more current fallout in a dangerous world, after the stupid GOP nominated a deranged amateur as leader of the free world.

  2. But, hey, Trump will be seeing all the headlines today and thinking, “Nailed it again. They’re talking about me.”

    What a walking disaster. Truly frightening.

  3. I guess some men really do just want to watch the world burn. The moment you think Trump and his allies have hit bottom, the dig a bit deeper. I really am at a loss to understand how anyone with a modicum of common sense and understanding of politics could possibly imagine supporting this modern-day Know Nothing. I’m going to go with the theory that Cruz’s speech last night was just his usual sour grapes, and that the Trump “campaign organization” was simply fooled. This is because there is no “organization,” it’s just Trump “knowing” things. Save us from ignorant men with lots of money.

  4. Ron Paul: I finally dig Trump. He is the man.
    Ayn Rand: So nice and white.

  5. run that statement as an ad in the Northeast.

    Be advised that Ashcroft could be speaking in Philadelphia next week.

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