In a stunning rebuke of Former President Donald Trump's remarks, NATO Secretary General Jans Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of alliance unity and categorically rejected the notion that allies who fail to meet defense spending targets should be left unprotected. Stoltenberg's response came after Trump recounted a story of threatening not to defend delinquent NATO member countries at a campaign event.

During the event, Trump claimed that he would not protect allies who did not fulfill their financial obligations, stating, "You didn't pay? You're delinquent? No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want."

In a written statement released on Sunday, Stoltenberg expressed his dismay over Trump's suggestion, asserting that any insinuation of allies being abandoned undermines the security of all NATO members, including the United States. Stoltenberg made it clear that NATO remains resolute in its commitment to defend all allies and affirmed that any attack on the alliance would be met with a united and forceful response.

The defense spending targets referenced by Trump are part of NATO's commitment to maintain military readiness. Currently, 19 out of NATO's 30 member nations are spending less than the agreed-upon 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense. However, countries located near Ukraine, Russia, or Russian ally Belarus tend to allocate more significant portions of their GDP to defense. For example, Finland, Hungary, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania spend between 2.3% and 2.7% of their GDP on defense, while Poland's defense spending exceeds 3.9%.

Meanwhile, the United States has allocated 3.49% of its GDP to defense spending in 2023, according to NATO data.

President Joe Biden condemned Trump's remarks, labeling them as "appalling and dangerous." Biden expressed concern that Trump's admission to withholding defense support gives Russian President Vladimir Putin a "green light" to expand aggression against Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states.

The reaction was not limited to the United States, as European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell criticized Trump's remarks, stating that NATO should not be dependent on the U.S. president's daily mood swings. Poland's Deputy Foreign Minister, Pawel Zalewski, also expressed worry, highlighting the contradictory nature of Trump's comments, which emphasized the need for increased defense spending while simultaneously calling on Russia to attack.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, echoed these concerns, emphasizing that reckless statements regarding NATO's security and solidarity only serve Putin's interests. He reaffirmed the urgent need for the EU "to further develop its strategic autonomy and invest in its defense" to ensure the strength of the alliance.

Stoltenberg's strong rebuttal of Trump's suggestion serves as a reminder of the fundamental principles of the NATO alliance, emphasizing the shared responsibility of member nations to protect each other. As the world grapples with increasing global challenges, the need for a united and robust transatlantic alliance remains crucial.