Donald Trump’s suggestion that he might leave some of Russia’s neighbors hanging in the event of Russian aggression, despite the United States’ obligations as a North Atlantic Treaty Organization member, flies in the face of all modern presidents’ national security strategy, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said Thursday.
“The recognition that NATO is the cornerstone of American national security is a policy that the United States has pursued under every post-WWII president, Democratic or Republican,” Earnest said.
“This is a long-standing commitment that has been strengthened under the leadership of President Obama and there should be no mistake or miscalculation made about this country’s commitment to our Transatlantic alliance.”
Trump specifically named the Baltic States — Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — as NATO members who might not find the U.S. rushing to their aid if he wins in November. In an interview published Wednesday, he said countries such as those must “fulfill their obligations to us” to receive the full benefits of U.S. protection via the 28-nation organization.
President Obama has a “steadfast commitment to our NATO alliance,” Earnest said. “The cornerstone of that alliance is a pledge that all of the allies have made to mutual self-defense. The United States commitment to that pledge is ironclad.”
