Thursday, July 21, 2016

Donald Trump's Foreign Policy Positions On NATO Are Scaring A Lot Of People



New York Times: Donald Trump Sets Conditions for Defending NATO Allies Against Attack

CLEVELAND — Donald J. Trump, on the eve of accepting the Republican nomination for president, explicitly raised new questions on Wednesday about his commitment to automatically defending NATO allies if they are attacked, saying he would first look at their contributions to the alliance.

Asked about Russia’s threatening activities, which have unnerved the small Baltic States that are among the more recent entrants into NATO, Mr. Trump said that if Russia attacked them, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing if those nations have “fulfilled their obligations to us.”

“If they fulfill their obligations to us,” he added, “the answer is yes.”

Read more ....

WNU Editor: I have been flooded with requests to comment on this from people I know in Russia. What's my take .... it will be a massive shift in U.S. policy if this Trump position becomes policy .... but .... I doubt that even if he is elected he will implement it. It is too big of a change with too many unknowns .... and that alone is why it will not happen. But Donald Trump is right that a discussion should start on what is NATO's future, its purpose, what will each member state contribute, and long term goals.

My Russian contacts interpretation of these remarks by Trump are different from what the U.S. and NATO are saying .... they see these remarks as a warning from Trump to Eastern Europe to not do anything stupid that would drag the U.S. into a war. They are also saying that this is also the message that Trump is sending to America's allies in the Far East who are now embroiled in a border dispute with China .... do not do anything stupid that would drag the U.S. into a war. In this context .... they may be right.

More News On Donald Trumps New York Times Interview Where He Lays-Out U.S. Conditions To Go To War In Europe

Trump hedges on NATO protection against Russian aggression -- AP
Trump calls for new standards to aid NATO allies -- Reuters
Trump says U.S. won’t rush to defend NATO countries if they don’t spend more on military -- Washington Post
Trump Challenges NATO Mutual Defense Clause -- VOA
GOP senators blast Trump over NATO -- The Hill
Trump’s Threats on NATO Commitment Draw Swift White House Rebuke -- Bloomberg
NATO Fires Back After Donald Trump Questions Value of Defending Allies -- WSJ
NATO allies respond to Trump’s suggestion that the U.S. might not protect them from Russia -- Washington Post
World Reacts to Trump's Apparent Conditional Support for NATO Allies -- Defense news
Donald Trump Is Sucking Up and Selling Out to Putin -- Michael Weiss, Daily Beast
Donald Trump just talked about foreign policy. And caused a whole lot of controversy. -- Washington Post
Trump would break sharply with US foreign policy tradition -- David Wright and Tom Kludt, CNN

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Unbelievable, a US presidential candidate that wants all NATO countries to contribute their fair share...the horror!

Daniel said...

A lot of what Trump says (and a lot of other politicians say as well) should probably be considered less in terms of straightforward pledges and more in terms of trying to shape the conversation in a favourable direction. In this case it's an effort to scare the NATO straight. Your Russian contacts are right.

Anonymous said...

What makes you think that Trump means or does not mean what he says?

Trump is a developer. An Uber macho business person. Take no prisoners. Morality is for little people.

Those who work with developers in the U.S. know that they are ruthless and mostly heartless. They see themselves as above common people and what they say or do is right because they said or did it.

Reading deep thoughts and intentions into a person who has no foreign or domestic policy experience is like wondering what a dog is thinking when they do something you do not like. Did they plan it? Are they sending a message?

Developers are not subtle. They use any ploy necessary to reach their goals. They have little experience with former KGB people who are playing world games using nukes, conventional weapons, spies and such to reach their short and long term goals.

They make money and build things. They do not know how to govern and they do not understand realpolitik.

So, if think that Trump the developer somehow brings gravitas and knowledge of how to govern, then I have a bridge or two for you.

Then again, Trump might just buy that bridge and put up condos with other peoples money.

A felon who cannot meet standards to receive a security clearance and a developer who uses the "hated" tax code to make millions. Not much choice for U.S. citizens.

We serve the State.


Jay Farquharson said...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=cNZKUozrBl4&ebc=ANyPxKqElDjbxe_v0of00Ya1WZeDRteqQwwYBy7EAQSr5ZftWpQBHe9OTJtY3ahrhePSSknLhn7fxdPtgE4-Xq25PSXi7GsCdg&time_continue=265

Nice country you got there,....... Shame if anything happened to it.

B.Poster said...

Renegotiating NAT and other ridiculous agreements we currently have is a step in the right direction. President Trump may not be able to complete the entire process in his two terms but getting this started will be a good thing.

B.Poster said...

I meant NATO.

RRH said...


"Reading deep thoughts and intentions into a person who has no foreign or domestic policy experience is like wondering what a dog is thinking when they do something you do not like. Did they plan it? Are they sending a message?"


Excellent. The best comment I've read this week.

Jay Farquharson said...

Why does der Furour constantly remind me of one of those inbred Irish Setters that constantly barks at imaginary squirrels?

It can't just be the hair.

Anonymous said...

The great thing about the North American Right Wing is that they are great at finding conspiracies when they do not exist and are blind to actual problems, many of which they create through their upward distribution of wealth and inability to deal with average citizens. Their cheerleaders bark from the rafters having avoided any type of public service, higher education or hands on experience.

Bow Wow.

D.Plowman said...

Trump is sending a message to the world...

"Don't get an alliance with us, cause it's not worth it and we won't honor it..."

Is that the kind of message Trump wants to give? Apparently so.

Anonymous said...

If Trump becomes president the Russian army will be in Paris by next summer, no doubt about it!

B.Poster said...

So many posts are posted here by the editor.:-) It takes a great deal of time and circumspection to digest these things. By the time I'm able to do so often times the posts have moved to the archives.

One of the more ridiculous criticisms of Mr. Trump has been that he is unstable and if elected and had access to the nuclear launch codes civilization would end. Actually by making it clear to "allies" that they are not to do anything that would harm our interests if they expect us to come to their aid is common sense. In other words, don't be stupid. This means we will be less likely not more likely to get pulled into something that would lead to a nuclear launch. Additionally, if "allies" are expected to shoulder more of the burden, they now have more skin in the "game" and will be far more circumspect in what they do. As it is right now, should war with Russia break out it would be America and not these "allies" who would bear the brunt of a Russian reprisal. Once it starts to cost them something for this aid, they will be much more appreciative of it. Again, the risks of a nuclear launch become less likely not more likely.

In contrast, it seems to be Mrs. Clinton who has substantial interest in interfering with Russian actions in places like Ukraine and Syria. In the case of Ukraine, there is no American interests here. In the case of Syria, it would be best for us to either not interfere or to assist the Russians here. As such, she seems to be unstable one who should not be trusted with the launch codes not Mr. Trump.