- A prime EU official revealed that Trump stated the US wouldn’t assist Europe if attacked.
- The official stated it was a “massive wake-up name” and expressed fears a few second Trump presidency.
- As president, Trump was overtly vital of the EU and questioned the US dedication to NATO.
Former President Donald Trump privately warned that the US would “by no means” assist the EU if it had been attacked, a prime European Union official has revealed.
Whereas talking at an occasion on Tuesday, French European Commissioner Thierry Breton recounted Trump’s dialog with European Fee President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020 on the World Financial Discussion board in Davos, per Politico.
“It’s essential perceive that if Europe is underneath assault we are going to by no means come that will help you and to assist you,” Trump stated, in accordance with Breton, who was additionally current on the assembly.
In accordance with Breton, Trump then stated: “By the way in which, NATO is useless, and we are going to go away, we are going to stop NATO.””
“And he added, ‘And by the way in which, you owe me $400 billion since you did not pay, you Germans, what you needed to pay for protection,'” Breton stated.
All through his presidency, Trump questioned the worth of the USA’ dedication to NATO and complained that different international locations weren’t spending sufficient to assist the alliance.
He additionally known as the EU a “foe” and Brussels a “hellhole” and imposed tariffs on European items, resulting in commerce tensions.
In the meantime, Trump has additionally usually praised the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, and appeared awestruck by the Kremlin chief, regardless of is invasion of Ukraine.
Trump seems poised to turn into the Republican Occasion’s presidential nominee, setting the stage for a showdown with President Joe Biden within the upcoming November election.
Breton expressed fears of a potential second Trump presidency and what that may imply for US-EU relations.
“That was an enormous wake-up name, and he could come again,” Breton stated.
“So now greater than ever, we all know that we’re on our personal, after all. We’re a member of NATO, nearly all of us, after all we now have allies, however we now have no different choices however to extend drastically this pillar so as to be prepared [for] no matter occurs.”
Breton heads the EU’s industrial coverage and protection agenda and just lately proposed a €100 billion fund to raise arms manufacturing throughout the bloc amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Politico reported.
