Pelosia sticks to Trump. “After the attacks of September 11, NATO countries did not ask us how much we spent on defense”
In the lobby of the Munich Security Conference in Washington Pelosia stated that President Donald Trump in the past spoke “frivolously” about the alliance. Democrat, however, emphasized that the United States should support NATO – including an obligation to defend in art. 5 – because the USA also They must be sure that they will receive help in future crises.
– If we, as the United States of America, will not honor our obligations, I do not know how we can expect that others will keep their obligations towards us – Pelosia said.
She noticed that NATO countries defended the United States after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 – they did not ask us how much NATO we give or anything else. They simply respected art. 5 – she reminded. This was the only case when the alliance referred to art. 5.
“The door is not yet closed”
Pelosia criticized Trump's comments on mutual defense of countries that did not achieve the alliance in the scope of defense expenditure at 2 %. GDP. – The President of the United States should not speak the NATO country: If you have not paid 2 percent, I say Russia: a free road – she said.
The democrat also added that he did not think “that the door to repair relations between the United States and NATO Member States would be closed”.
Taking a slightly more humorous tone, she also criticized other Trump's administration activities towards the alliance. Referring to the efforts of the Trump administration aimed at the potential annexation of Greenland, Pelosia joked that “more people think that Elvis Presley lives in the United States than the Greenlanders who want to be part of the United States.”
She also expressed moderate praise for the more conciliating comments of JD Vance vice president delivered on Wednesday about the transatlantic alliance and peace in Ukraine. Vance shocked allies in a February speech at a security conference in Munich – which also organized Wednesday's meeting – where he attacked Europe for violating freedom of speech and being a weak partner for the United States.
On Wednesday, Vance emphasized that both Europe and the United States belong to the “same civilization team” – It is completely absurd to think that you will ever manage to drive a wedge between the United States and Europe,” he added.
“It was a better approach,” Pelosia said about Vance's comments. – I would say it was well received.
