Donald Trump has made his most explicit commitment yet that America will come to the defence of its Nato allies – a day before a much-anticipated meeting with Vladimir Putin. The US President had been criticised during his first visit to Europe when he failed to refer to Nato’s Article 5, that part of its charter that commits members to the idea of mutual defence. Yet after having defended his berating of those members of the 29-member organisation he said were not sufficiently contributing financially, he spelled out that he – in line with every other US President before him – was committed to Nato’s solidarity.
“To those who would criticise our tough stance, I would point out that the United States has demonstrated – not merely with its words but with its actions – that we stand firmly behind Article 5, the mutual defence commitment,” Mr Trump said. “Words are easy, but actions are what matters. And for its own protection, Europe – and you know this, everybody knows this, everybody has to know this – Europe must do more.” Läs artikel