NATO chief responds to Trump: 'Solidarity among allies is a key value for NATO'
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg responded Thursday to Donald Trump's suggestion that his administration might not help NATO allies should Russia invade.
"Solidarity among allies is a key value for NATO," Stoltenberg said. "This is good for European security and good for U.S. security. We defend one another." Though he insisted he had no desire to interfere with the U.S. presidential election — Stoltenberg is Norwegian — he did add, "Two world wars have shown that peace in Europe is also important for the security of the United States."
In an interview with The New York Times on Wednesday, Trump had explained that he would consider whether allies have "fulfilled their obligations to us" before acting on any treaty obligations. "If they fulfill their obligations to us, the answer is yes," he said. Since then, Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort has claimed the Times misquoted his candidate.