PNN – The head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army said in response to Donald Trump’s recent comments and positions regarding the level of cooperation with NATO members if he wins the elections: America’s credibility is at risk.
According to Pakistan News Network from CNN news agency, Charles Brown, the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the US Army, said in response to former President Donald Trump’s comments regarding encouraging Russia to attack Europe and criticizing the European members of NATO for failing to spend sufficient military budgets in this organization, “The credibility of the United States is at risk.”
While Brown called the NATO organization “a strong alliance” with a history of 75 years, Trump had disregarded the article of collective defense of this organization in his recent words, which states that all members need to defend the member under military attack.
In his interview with NBC, Brown said: I think we are responsible for keeping our commitments. America’s credibility with our allies is at stake. America must maintain its leadership position.
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Trump, who is leading the Republican candidates in the upcoming American elections, announced on Saturday during a speech in South Carolina that he will not defend his country’s European allies against a possible Russian attack if he returns to the White House.
Trump’s criticism is about NATO members’ commitments to allocate 2% of their GDP for defense spending; A goal that, according to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, at least half of the 31 members of the alliance are going to achieve by 2024. In 2022, only seven NATO members fulfilled this commitment.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces is in the position of the main advisor to the US President in military affairs; For this reason, the existence of differences in cooperation with NATO could be a basis for Brown’s replacement if Trump returns to the White House.
General Mark Milley, Brown’s predecessor and chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff during Trump’s tenure, was also a frequent target of Trump’s anger, and the two have clashed several times since Trump left the White House.