BBC - Donald Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack any NATO member who does not pay taxes as part of the Western military alliance

Former US President Donald Trump says he would encourage Russia to attack any NATO member who does not pay taxes as part of the Western military alliance. Trump announced this during the 2024 presidential election campaign in South Carolina, during which he recalled a meeting with NATO leaders.

According to Trump, he once told one of the leaders that he will not defend a country that does not pay taxes and will encourage the aggressor to do what he wants. As the former US president recalls, he also spoke about Russia during the meeting with NATO leaders. According to him, the leader of one of the "big countries" asked what would happen if his country did not pay taxes and was attacked by Russia, to which Trump replied: "Don't pay? Are you guilty?''He said, 'Yes, let's say it did,' to which I said, 'No, I won't protect you.' In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever it takes. You have to pay your taxes," Trump said.

According to Donald Trump, NATO receives hundreds of billions of dollars thanks to him. The former US president also claims that because of his behavior, NATO members liked the former US president Barack Obama more , and this is because  he did not ask for anything from the other countries that are members of the alliance.

"Then I hear that they like Obama better. They should like Obama better. Yes , why ? Because he didn't ask for anything. We looked like the stupidest country in the world. And we will no longer be the stupidest country in the world," said Trump.