Donald Trump again doubts the NATO collective defense clause: “There are numerous definitions of article 5”

US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that there are “numerous definitions” for the collective defense clause in the NATO treaty, comments that risk provoking a new alarm among the allies that meet in The Hague, reports Reuters.

The summit in the Netherlands will consecrate an increase in defense expenses in trying to keep Trump, in the context of the fears that existed on the Alliance after his return to power in the US.

Even so, the US leader has raised new question marks on the availability of the United States, in his mandate to respect the fundamental commitment of NATO to defend any challenged Member State.

“It depends on your definition. There are numerous definitions of Article 5, do you know that, right?” Trump told reporters on Air Force One when he was asked if he was devoted to the mutual defense clause in the Washington Treaty.

“But I am determined to be a friend. You know, I became friends with many of those leaders and I am determined to help them,” continued the US president.

He said he would discuss the issue with his NATO counterparts.

“I will give you an exact definition when I get there. I just don't want to do it in a plane,” Donald Trump added.

Trump has repeatedly questioned the founding principle of NATO, and last year suggested that he will encourage Russia to do “what the hell” to members who do not meet Washington's requirements.

Meanwhile, Trump said he would “analyze” the formulation proposed in the final statement of the NATO summit on Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

After returning to the White House, Donald Trump restored contacts between Washington and Moscow, trying to reach a peace agreement to end the Ukraine. The US president said that “probably” will meet with his Ukrainian counterpart in the margin of the NATO summit in The Hague, two months after the dispute they had in the Oval Office. Asked