If they don't pay, I won't defend them," said U.S. president Donald Trump on Thursday, talking about NATO allies. The president besides claimed that both Ukraine and Russia have no choice but to enter into a peace agreement. He added that only he knows why Russia has no choice.
"It's common sense: they don't pay, I won't defend them," Trump said, referring to reports about the formal change in US policy towards NATO at the Oval Office ceremony. According to NBC television, Trump besides plans to decision US forces in Europe to countries that meet the requirements of defence spending.
He mentioned that erstwhile a akin threat to the leaders of the Alliance states 7 years ago, he was faced with quite a few criticism, but the states increased their defence spending.
"They said, oh, he violates (rules) NATO (...) They're my friends, but if the United States were in problem and we called them, we'd say we have a problem: 'France, we have a problem', you think they'll come and defend us? They should, (but) I'm not sure" - he added.
"Very Unfair" Deal
Trump besides stated that he sees NATO as "something possibly good", although he immediately added that it is simply a "very dishonest" deal and that until he took power, the US paid almost 100% of allied spending.
"Think about it, we pay 100% on their troops, and they rotation us in trade" - he added.
He besides claimed that if it were not for him and his threat to the Alliance leaders during his first term, NATO would not be today.
During the Thursday ceremony, the president of the United States was besides asked what he expected from the president of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenski. He replied that Ukraine wanted to make an agreement (peaceful) due to the fact that "he does not think she has any another choice".
"I besides think Russia wants to make a deal, due to the fact that in any another way, in another way - which only I know, of which only I know - have no choice."
Trump besides announced that on his first abroad journey he would go to Saudi Arabia, "probably in about a period and a half." However, he stated that he did not know if he would meet Vladimir Putin there.
Delay of duties
The U.S. president answered the questions of journalists during the signing ceremony of a series of regulations, including duties on goods from Canada and Mexico. After Trump announced the postponement of duties on the automotive manufacture on Wednesday, on Thursday he announced that he would besides hold the implementation of duties on all another products from both countries subject to the USMCA trade agreement, which according to the White home covers about half of imported goods from both countries by a month. Trump, however, stated that this was a one-time work delay.
When asked about violent declines in stock exchanges due to the introduction of advanced tariffs on US's largest trading partners, the president blamed these declines on "globalists who do not like how rich this country will be".
"They've been stealing from this country for years, and now they're gonna be doing large due to the fact that they're all gonna be doing great. But we can't let it proceed in America. Otherwise, we will no longer have a country," Trump said.
PAP
