NATO: Trump's statements endanger American and European soldiers

Any suggestion that NATO allies would not defend each other undermines the security of the alliance and endangers American and European soldiers, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said. He responds to statements by former American president Donald Trump that NATO countries must pay enough if they want protection.

According to Stoltenberg, any attack on NATO will be met with a "unified and strong response." He thus rejects Trump's comment that NATO allies who do not pay enough will not be helped in the event of an attack. One of NATO's core principles is that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all members.

But according to Trump, who wants to become president again, Russia can "do whatever it wants" with NATO countries that spend less on defense than the alliance's agreed guideline of 2 percent of gross domestic product. At an election rally, he emphasized that under his leadership the United States will not help those countries. The White House calls Trump's statements "reprehensible and unhinged."