US President-elect Trump stirs concern among allies

Frankfurt, Monday

President-elect Donald Trump, in remarks likely to rattle US allies, described North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (Nato) as “obsolete” in an interview published in today editions of two European newspapers.

He also hailed Britain’s exit from the European Union (EU) and backed a speedy trade deal with the United Kingdom (UK), but condemned as “catastrophic” Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to open Germany’s doors to a flood of refugees.

“I said a long time ago that Nato had problems,” Trump said, in remarks carried by The Times of London and Bild, Germany’s biggest-selling daily. “Number one, it was obsolete, because it was designed many, many years ago,” he said. “Number two, the countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to pay.”

“I took such heat, when I said Nato was obsolete. It’s obsolete because it wasn’t taking care of terror. I took a lot of heat for two days. And then they started saying Trump is right.”

He added, though, “Nato is very important to me.” On the campaign trail, Trump said he would think twice about helping Nato allies if the United States were not “reasonably reimbursed” for the costs of defending them.

His comments caused consternation among eastern European Nato countries nervous about Moscow following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

After Trump’s victory, Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance had been a bedrock of transatlantic security for “almost 70 years” and was especially needed at a time of new challenges.

“This is no time to question the partnership between Europe and the US,” he said. In 2014, stung into action by Russia’s intervention in Ukraine, upheaval in the Middle East and North Africa, Nato leaders agreed to reverse years of defence cuts and devote the equivalent of two per cent of economic output to defence. -AFP

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