BRUSSELS: Nato insisted Friday that every member state is covered by its "all for one, one for all" collective defence pledge, after US President Donald Trump appeared to undercut the alliance’s core commitment.
Trump added to the uproar over his summit with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin when he said on Tuesday that the people of the tiny Balkan nation of Montenegro were "aggressive" and capable of triggering World War III.
In that case, would it be reasonable to go to their defence, a Fox News journalist asked the president. "I understand what you’re saying. I’ve asked the same question," Trump answered.
The president’s comments were in line with his overall "America First" strategy and with longstanding US doubts about the wisdom of coming to the rescue of smaller, troublesome allies in Europe at the risk of triggering a wider conflict.
A Nato official speaking to AFP made no direct reference to the controversy over Montenegro but noted that at a Nato summit in Brussels last week, Trump had re-stated Washington’s commitment to the alliance.
"Nato’s collective defence clause, Article 5, is unconditional and iron-clad. It means that an attack on one is an attack on all," said the official who asked not to be named. "President Trump has made clear that the US is fully committed to Nato and our alliance is strong," he said.
"Article 5 has only been invoked once, in support of the US after the 9/11 attacks. "This led to Nato’s largest ever operation, in Afghanistan, where hundreds of thousands of soldiers from Europe, including from Montenegro, as well as Canadians, have stood shoulder to shoulder with US troops and more than a thousand have paid the ultimate price," the official added.
Harvey Weinstein. — AFP FileNEW YORK: Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 conviction for sexual assault and rape was...
Liberal Justice Elena Kagan on Sept. 13, 2016. — Slate website WASHINGTON: U.S. Supreme Court justices, wading back...
A representational image of inmates behind jail bars. — Unsplash/FileMOSCOW: A Russian court on Wednesday ordered...
Sudanese soldiers guard the surrounding area of the UNMIS compound in El-Fasher, the administrative capital of North...
US quietly shipped ATACMS missiles to Ukraine. — Report news agencyWASHINGTON: The United States in recent weeks...
US President Joe Biden during his address in California. — AFP FileWASHINGTON: President Joe Biden signed a...