In a scathing rebuke of former President Donald Trump, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith condemned his latest attack on the NATO alliance as "dangerous and frankly irresponsible." Trump, who repeatedly criticized NATO during his tenure, had reportedly threatened to withdraw the United States from the bloc over allies' failure to meet military spending targets.

During a recent statement, Trump expressed his support for Russia, stating that he would encourage them to "do whatever the hell they want" to NATO allies who fail to meet their financial obligations. These remarks sparked widespread condemnation from the White House, NATO headquarters, and allied capitals.

Ambassador Smith addressed journalists at a briefing on Tuesday, emphasizing the severe implications of Trump's comments. She affirmed that encouraging the Kremlin to attack NATO allies or alliance territories greatly endangers the lives of U.S. and allied soldiers. Smith labeled Trump's statements as dangerous and irresponsible, underscoring the magnitude of the responsibility that comes with the role of Commander-in-Chief.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg echoed Smith's criticism, stating that any suggestion of allies not defending each other undermines collective security and puts American and European soldiers at greater risk. President Joe Biden also chimed in, expressing his concern over Trump's willingness to abandon NATO allies in the event of a Russian attack.

The controversy surrounding Trump's stance on NATO stems from his long-standing criticism of allies failing to meet the agreed-upon 2 percent of GDP military spending threshold, set in 2014. While some progress has been made, with pledges indicating that half of NATO allies will reach this goal by the end of 2024, Trump has continued to voice his dissatisfaction.

With a potential Trump return on the horizon, allied capitals are grappling with the implications of his renewed presidency. Fabrice Pothier, a former director of policy planning for NATO, highlighted concerns within NATO leadership that Trump may follow through on his threats to withdraw from the alliance. The upcoming election raises the question of whether Trump will double down on his criticisms and pursue a more aggressive approach towards NATO.

As the fallout from Trump's recent comments continues to unfold, the international community remains unsettled. Allies are closely monitoring the situation and preparing for any potential repercussions that may arise from another Trump presidency.

[Editor's Note: This article has been updated to reflect additional information provided in Ambassador Julianne Smith's briefing and to provide context surrounding Trump's previous criticisms of NATO.]