U.S. President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his usual threat to withdraw the country from NATO if allies fail to invest sufficiently in defense.
Trump made this statement in an interview with NBC News. This interview was his first since winning the presidential election. In the conversation, the U.S. president-elect refused to commit to keeping the country in NATO. However, he noted that the United States would remain a member if treated “fairly.”
“If they pay their bills and if I feel they are being fair—treating us fairly—then the answer is absolutely, I would stay in NATO,” Trump said, repeating statements he has made over the past several years and during his presidential campaign.
According to Trump, if member countries fail to do so, he will “absolutely” consider the possibility of the U.S. leaving the Alliance.
In the interview, Trump also suggested that he might reduce American aid to Kyiv once he returns to the White House on January 20.
