"Trump's Alarming Rhetoric: A Gift to Putin"

Another reminder of the danger Trump poses to our alliances, US and European security, and his signaling to Moscow ahead of the upcoming election.

Amidst Russia’s escalating threat to NATO allies, the recent statements by Donald Trump have yet again raised profound questions about the future of transatlantic security should Trump win. Trump's brazen declaration, made at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, regarding his encouragement for Russia to act with impunity and attack NATO members failing to meet their “defense spending obligations,” sent shockwaves throughout Europe, and beyond, and has evoked criticism by our NATO allies. Of course, Trump’s concern isn’t about NATO’s defense spending obligations but about weakening and potentially ending the alliance that held the Soviet Union in check from Russia’s imperialist appetites, a key objective of KGB Putin

At the rally, Trump spewed that “one of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, “Well, sir, if we don't pay and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?” I said, “You didn’t pay, you’re delinquent?” He said, “Yes, let’s say that happened.” “No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.”

We may never know whether this conversation happened, highly unlikely, but one thing is for sure, Trump's evident willingness to, yet again, cozy up to wanted war criminal Putin, and publicly seek assistance in the upcoming election. With Trump eyeing a return to the White House amid looming federal indictments, his appeal to Russia underscores the urgency of addressing foreign interference in democratic institutions. The specter of a leader willing to sacrifice international stability for personal gain should serve as a wake-up call and a warning of what will come should Trump win.

Trump's assertion, calling for a departure from the longstanding commitments to collective defense enshrined in the NATO treaty and again advocating for the abandonment of such commitments sends a chilling message, particularly to NATO members in Eastern Europe who keenly feel the threat of Russian aggression. Trump's statements have reignited longstanding fears within Europe about the reliability of the United States as a strategic partner. During the 2016 election and throughout his presidency, Trump repeatedly questioned the value of NATO and raised doubts about America's willingness to uphold its treaty obligations. While President Biden has sought to repair the damage done to transatlantic relations, Trump's recent remarks serve as a reminder of the uncertainty surrounding U.S. foreign policy.

And it’s not the first time Trump has criticized our allies. In 1987, right after returning from a trip to the Soviet Union, Trump paid to place a full-page ad in major newspapers, attacking America’s allies and alliances. In the decades after, Trump went on to engage in lucrative dealings with Russian officials and mafia figures, who reportedly accounted for a significant portion of the income generated by his properties.

Meanwhile, the negative media coverage of President Biden's age, making it the top story, amidst the increasingly alarming statements from Trump, including encouraging Russia to attack NATO, reveals a disturbing trend. While the former dominates headlines, the latter, which poses a significant threat to European and global security, is relegated to secondary importance.

Trump’s statements came amid alarm bells being sounded in several capitals across Europe about the likelihood of an attack by Russia against NATO in the coming years. Over the past few weeks, Germany and Norway have openly acknowledged the need to prepare for potential Russian aggression, signaling a shift towards a more assertive defense posture. Bundeswehr General Inspector Lt. Gen. Carsten Breuer stated that Germany’s armed forces needed to prepare for war within 5 years. In his view, the European Union is facing the threat of a possible war from outside for the first time since the end of the Cold War.

In the Baltics, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have taken proactive steps to bolster their defenses by signing an agreement to create a common defense line along NATO's eastern border. This initiative reflects a growing recognition among frontline states of the need to enhance deterrence and resilience in the face of Russian aggression. Similarly, the United Kingdom's top military commander, Gen. Patrick Sanders, has called for readiness to fight in a hypothetical land war, citing Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine as a reminder of the importance of citizen armies in modern warfare. Sanders' remarks underscore the urgency of adapting to emerging security challenges and preparing for potential threats on Europe's doorstep.

Meanwhile, the Republican Party's betrayal of Ukraine, orchestrated at the direct behest of Trump, has dire consequences for Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russian aggression and daily terrorist attacks. With vital military aid disrupted since October, Ukraine faces a critical shortage of ammunition and weapons, forcing them to ration resources and resulting in an alarming increase in the daily death toll from Russia’s onslaught of attacks. This abandonment of support not only endangers Ukrainian lives but also emboldens Putin's expansionist ambitions in the region, posing a grave threat to regional stability, and US national and global security. Adding to the sabotage of the critical Ukrainian aid package, Trump’s sycophants in the House continue taking various steps to disrupt our commitments abroad, jeopardizing U.S. national security in the process. Last year, far-right Rep. Majorie Taylor Greene introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act calling for the withdrawal of the U.S. from NATO.

In response to Trump's remarks, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg swiftly reaffirmed the alliance's unwavering commitment to mutual defense. Stoltenberg's resolute stance echoes the sentiments of many NATO leaders, emphasizing the indispensability of collective defense in the face of external threats.

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council, which comprises Europe’s heads of government and defines their common policies, wrote that “reckless statements” like Mr. Trump’s “serve only Putin’s interest.” He stated that they make more urgent Europe’s nascent efforts to “develop its strategic autonomy and invest in its defense.”

And in Berlin, Norbert Röttgen, a member of the German Parliament’s foreign affairs committee, wrote on the social media platform X, “Everyone should watch this video of #Trump to understand that Europe may soon have no choice but to defend itself.” He added, “Anything else would be capitulation and giving up on ourselves.”

In conclusion, Trump's ongoing allegiance to Russia and his disruptive actions on the international stage, coupled with the media's disproportionate focus on trivial matters, should set off alarm bells as we approach this election. Despite being merely a candidate, Trump is disruptive and remains a danger, as he continues to align himself with Russia and other despotic regimes. He continues to interfere with and disrupt Biden's foreign policy, posing a threat to US national security and raising concerns among allies about the reliability of the US as a future partner. Trump's outrageous statements and actions warrant a far greater danger than Biden's age.