Brussels: The European Union should achieve strategic autonomy and invest in its defence, European Council President Charles Michel said on Sunday following a statement by former US President Donald Trump about Washington’s relations with NATO allies.
“Reckless statements on NATO’s security and Art. 5 solidarity serve only [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s interest. They do not bring more security or peace to the world. On the contrary, they emphasise the need for the EU to urgently further develop its strategic autonomy and invest in its defence. And to keep our alliance strong,” Michel said on X.
On Saturday, at a rally of his supporters in South Carolina, Trump said during his presidency, the leader of an unspecified NATO nation had asked him whether the United States would support the alliance in the event of Russia’s possible attack. Trump replied in the negative, saying that NATO countries did not invest enough in defence. The former US president also vowed to encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want,” adding that NATO member states “got to pay.”
