Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told MSNBC host Andrea Mitchell on Wednesday that former President Trump “is right” that NATO countries need to spend more on their own defense.
Trump sparked controversy during a campaign speech last month in South Carolina when he said he once told an unnamed country that he would encourage Russia to do “whatever they wanted” to NATO members who didn't comply. defense spending patterns.
“NATO was destroyed until I came along,” Trump said at the rally. “I said, 'Everyone is going to pay.' They said, 'Well, if we don't pay, are you still going to protect us?' I said, 'Of course not.' They couldn't believe the answer.”
Trump later added: “No, I wouldn't protect you; in fact, I would encourage you to [Russia] do whatever they want. You have to pay. “You have to pay your bills.”
ON A VISIT TO THE WHITE HOUSE, THE POLISH PRESIDENT URGES NATO TO INCREASE SPENDING AND CALLS TO FINANCE UKRAINE
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski argued that former President Trump is right to say European countries should pay more for their own defense. (MSNBC)
The former president has frequently criticized other NATO members for the amount of money they spend on their defense compared to what the United States spends. He has also threatened several times in the past to withdraw the United States from NATO.
“What would you say to Donald Trump, who actually said he would encourage Putin to go to countries, NATO countries, that don't pay their fair share?” Mitchell asked Sikorski.
“Well, we hope it's just flowery rhetoric,” the Polish official said. “You're right: we should spend more in Europe. Poland is spending well over 3% of GDP on defense, and we have placed $50 billion worth of defense orders in the United States.”
NATO MEMBERS PREPARE FOR TRUMP WIN AS RECORD NUMBER OF MEMBERS MOVE ON TO MEET SPENDING PROMISES
Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump gestures at a campaign rally on Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Rome, Georgia. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
The MSNBC host also noted that “Donald Trump is ahead in the polls in the United States” in what she said will be a “very close election” and asked: “How worried are you about what the next presidency could mean? in terms of Poland's security?” And NATO?
“Poland wants to have an excellent relationship with the United States, regardless of who is in charge here. President Biden, of course, is a transatlantic. He voted to join NATO. But the United States has interests to do with credibility. You know, when the United States has said that Kiev will be defended, if it is not acted upon, its allies around the world will notice. So I hope that the United States will help the Ukrainians, because they are defending themselves, they just need the means to do it,” he said.
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Fox News' Landon Mion contributed to this report.
