NATO's revival: Trump claims credit for alliance's strength
Donald Trump remarked that NATO was weakened before his involvement. Speaking from the Oval Office on Friday, the U.S. President underlined the pivotal role the United States plays in the alliance and the ongoing diplomatic efforts between Ukraine and Russia.
In the company of Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, U.S. President Donald Trump made a statement in the Oval Office on Friday. During his speech, Trump highlighted his own contributions to rebuilding and strengthening NATO. He pointed out that the organization was close to collapsing before he assumed office as the President of the United States again.
Would there be no NATO without Trump?
Trump asserted that NATO was in poor condition before his involvement, claiming that earlier alliance leaders had struggled to secure reliable funding. He added that both the former and current NATO Secretary Generals—whom he described as commendable individuals—acknowledged that his actions may have been essential to NATO’s continued survival.
The U.S. president assessed that only seven countries were paying what they were supposed to be paying. He recalled that he forced European member states to increase defence spending, which significantly improved the alliance's financial situation.
- No, I won’t protect if you’re not paying. If you’re delinquent or if the money isn’t paid, why would we do that?," he said. "And, you know, hundreds of billions of dollars flowed into NATO, and NATO became strong - Trump boasted.
- NATO is now solid and strong, but (member countries - ed.) must treat us fairly. Without the United States, NATO is not the same - Trump argued from the Oval Office.
Trump talks about Putin
Trump also spoke about his conversations with Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelensky, arguing that his personal involvement was crucial. He stated that "Putin made it clear" that "he would not be concerned about NATO" if it weren't for the active support of the alliance by the U.S. - But he is concerned - emphasized the U.S. President.
He expressed confidence that a basic framework for an agreement has been established and voiced hope that it could soon be finalized. He emphasized that his efforts are motivated primarily by the ongoing loss of thousands of young lives—both Russian and Ukrainian—each week, which he described as a tragic situation.
He again criticized his predecessor, Joe Biden, claiming that the United States spent $350 billion due to a war that, in his view, could have been avoided. He argued that such a conflict would not have occurred under more capable leadership and pointed out that no similar war took place during his four years in office.
Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a phone conversation in which they agreed to a 30-day ceasefire concerning only energy facilities and infrastructure. The next day, Trump spoke with Volodymyr Zelensky.
