Former U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed that he would encourage Russia to do "what it hell wants" to any NATO member state "that doesn’t pay enough to the alliance's budget." Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump said, "I did the same thing with NATO and made them pay. NATO was bankrupt until I came along. I said everyone would pay. They asked, 'Well, if we don't pay, will you keep protecting us?' I said, 'Not at all.' They couldn't believe the answer."
He added, "One president of a big country stood up and said, 'Okay, sir, if we don’t pay and get attacked by Russia, will you protect us?' I said, 'You haven’t paid. You’re in arrears.' He said, 'Yes, let’s say that happens.' (Trump replied) No, I will not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do what they want to hell. You have to pay... (then) the money flowed."
It is noted that NATO countries' spending began to increase in the last two years of former President Barack Obama's administration, following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. NATO stated on its website that 2022 was "the eighth consecutive year of increased defense spending among European allies and Canada." The NATO charter stipulates that each member country spends at least 2% of its GDP on defense matters.
