In a recent rally in Conway, South Carolina, former President Donald Trump made comments that have sparked controversy and raised concerns about the security of the NATO alliance. Trump claimed that he had warned an unidentified NATO member that if they failed to meet the 2% of GDP defense spending target, he would leave them at the mercy of Russia.

Trump recounted telling the NATO member, "No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills." These remarks have drawn criticism from NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg and President Joe Biden, both of whom condemned Trump's stance as a threat to the security of the trans-Atlantic alliance.

Stoltenberg issued a strong statement, stating that any suggestion of allies not defending each other undermines the security of both the United States and Europe. He emphasized that such remarks put American and European soldiers at increased risk. President Joe Biden, who is currently on track for a rematch against Trump in the upcoming November elections, criticized Trump's comments, calling them "appalling and dangerous."

It is important to note that NATO members do not pay to belong to the alliance, nor do they owe the organization any financial dues. Trump's concern during his presidency and now is focused on the contributions each member makes to their own military budgets. The target agreed upon by NATO members in 2014, during the Barack Obama administration, was to move towards spending 2% of GDP on national defense by 2024.

NATO leaders, during their last summit in Lithuania in July, adjusted the pledge and agreed to spend at least 2% of GDP on their military budgets. However, no specific target date was set for achieving this goal. The 2% benchmark aims at ensuring that each member has sufficient defense capability to contribute to the joint defense of the alliance.

It is worth noting that each member country's investments are channeled into their own armed forces and not paid to NATO. The increased military spending by member countries has been driven partly by Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly two years ago, which has highlighted the need to strengthen their armies.

Trump's comments not only indicate a lack of understanding about the functioning of NATO, but they also raise concerns about his prioritization of an authoritarian state over democratic allies. Such remarks have sparked widespread debate regarding the role and future of the NATO alliance, and the impact they could have on international security.

As the election campaign heats up, it remains to be seen how these controversial statements by Trump will influence public opinion and policy discussions on both sides of the Atlantic. The security and strength of the NATO alliance will undoubtedly continue to be a key topic in the upcoming US presidential election.