WORLD NEWS FOR MONTENEGRO DIASPORA
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AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS
Donald Trump once again questioned the commitment of the United States to NATO and the solidarity of allied countries within the transatlantic defense alliance, prompting a response from Emmanuel Macron, who called for "respect."
"If they don’t pay, I won’t defend them," Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Trump has frequently raised the issue of whether the United States – by far the largest military in the transatlantic alliance and the ultimate guarantor of European security since World War II – should continue playing its central role in NATO.
The Republican, who began his second term in January, regularly criticizes some NATO members for not spending enough on their defense budgets and for relying too much on the United States. "They should pay more," he said.
"My biggest problem with NATO (...) is that if the United States had a problem and we called France or other countries I won’t name and said 'we have a problem,' do you think they would come and help us like they should? I’m not sure..." Trump said.
"We are loyal and faithful allies," responded Emmanuel Macron.
"We have always been there for each other," Macron said to reporters in Brussels after a meeting of EU leaders, during which they agreed to strengthen Europe's defense.
The French president emphasized that France feels "respect and friendship" toward the United States and its leaders and that France "has the right to demand the same thing" from the Americans.
