Stoltenberg convinced: Trump's re-election would not jeopardise US membership in NATO

(Patria) - NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg yesterday dismissed concerns that the re-election of former US President Donald Trump would weaken NATO at a time of securing firm support for Ukraine.

Stoltenberg said he does not believe for a second that Donald Trump's presidency would jeopardise US membership in the NATO alliance.

- I believe the US will continue to be a staunch NATO ally, regardless of the outcome of the US elections, because it is in the American interest - Stoltenberg said in an interview with CNN.

Republican Donald Trump, a fierce critic of NATO during his presidency, threatened to pull the country out of the alliance, Hina reports.

He cut NATO defence funding and repeatedly complained that the US was paying more than it should.

- I worked with him for four years and listened to him carefully, and the main criticism was that NATO allies were spending too little - Stoltenberg stated.

He assures that in the meantime, more members have increased their military contributions.

- The US message that European allies need to contribute more has been taken on board and they are indeed moving in that direction - Stoltenberg added.

Trump continued to criticise the alliance, saying over the weekend during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination that he does not believe NATO countries would support the US in the event of an attack.

The NATO agreement contains a clause guaranteeing mutual defence of member countries in the event of an attack on one of them.