Trump encouraging Russia to attack on NATO over unpaid bills

• The comments were made during a rally in South Carolina.
• The White House criticized the comments as encouraging invasions of allies by murderous regimes.
• The US has provided Ukraine with more financial support than any other country since the 2022 invasion.

During a rally on Saturday, Donald Trump asserted that he would "encourage" Russia to attack any NATO member failing to pay its bills within the Western military alliance. He recounted informing a leader previously that he wouldn't safeguard a nation lagging on its payments and would urge aggressors to "do whatever the hell they want." NATO members pledge to defend any nation within the bloc that faces an attack.

The White House called the comments "appalling and unhinged".

During the rally in South Carolina, Mr. Trump recounted making his remarks about Russia at a meeting of Nato country leaders. He remembered that the leader of a "big country" had posed a hypothetical scenario in which he failed to fulfill his financial obligations within NATO and faced an attack from Moscow. Mr. Trump stated that the leader had inquired whether the US would assist his country in that situation, prompting him to deliver a rebuke.

"I said: 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?'... 'No I would not protect you I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You gotta pay.'"

A White House spokesman characterized the former president's remarks as "encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous regimes" and labeled the comments "appalling and unhinged."

He added that the statement "endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home".

Mr. Trump, the favorite for the Republican candidate in this year's US presidential election, has long criticized NATO and perceives it as imposing an excessive financial burden on the United States to ensure the defense of 30 other nations.

Russia initiated its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022 after Mr. Trump left office. Since then, he has lamented the amount of US money sent to Ukraine, despite it not being a NATO member.

According to White House figures from December, the US has provided Ukraine with more financial support than any other country, totaling more than $44 billion since the 2022 invasion.

However, Republicans in Congress have blocked all new funding since the turn of the year, demanding tough measures to restrict migration into the US on its southern border. They then refused the amended bill when it was presented earlier this week.

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