Former President Donald Trump privately warned that the US would “by no means” assist the EU if it have 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.
“You must perceive that if Europe is beneath assault we are going to by no means come that will help you and to help you,” Trump stated, in response to Breton, who was additionally current on the assembly.
In response to Breton, Trump then stated: “By the best way, NATO is useless, and we are going to go away, we are going to give up NATO.””
“And he added, ‘And by the best way, 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 america’ dedication to NATO and complained that different nations weren’t spending sufficient to help 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 change into the Republican Social gathering’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 a giant wake-up name, and he might 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 now we have allies, however now we have no different choices however to extend drastically this pillar as a way 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 inside the bloc amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Politico reported.
