Trump scolds NATO allies over defense spending
Trump scolds NATO allies over defense spending
http://www.preview.cnn.com/2017/05/25/politics/trump-nato-financial-payments/index.html
Brussels (CNN)President Donald Trump on Thursday chided NATO member countries directly for not meeting their financial commitments to the alliance and declined to reiterate US commitment to the alliance's mutual defense pledge.
"Members of the alliance must finally contribute their fair share and meet their financial obligations," Trump said. "Twenty-three of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying and what they are supposed to be paying for their defense. This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States."
Speaking during the unveiling of a memorial dedicated to the victims of the 9/11 attacks and Article 5 of the NATO charter -- under which members pledge to jump to the aid of any member country that is attacked -- Trump declined to reiterate US commitment to the provision.
Trump first cast doubt on the provision during his presidential campaign, and NATO members had hoped the President would make clear the US was committed to Article 5 during his remarks on Thursday.
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