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Trump Is Losing It: It is unclear whether Donald Trump has forgotten the precise nature of NATO or whether he ever fully grasped it in the first place. (www.nytimes.com)

submitted 8 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/politics@lemmy.world

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What is clear, however, is that Trump — who ostensibly spent four years as president of the United States — has little clue about what NATO is or what NATO does. And when he spoke on the subject at a rally in South Carolina over the weekend, what he said was less a cogent discussion of foreign policy than it was gibberish — the kind of outrageous nonsense that flows without interruption from an empty and unreflective mind.

“One of the presidents of a big country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay, and we’re attacked by Russia, will you protect us?’” Trump said, recalling an implausible conversation with an unnamed, presumably European head of state. “‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’” Trump recounted responding. “‘No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.’”

The former president’s message was clear: If NATO members do not pay up, then he will leave them to the mercy of a continental aggressor who has already plunged one European country into death, destruction and devastation.

Except NATO isn’t a mafia protection racket. NATO, in case anyone needs to be reminded, is a mutual defense organization, formed by treaty in 1949 as tensions between the United States and the Soviet Union hardened into conflict. “The parties agree that an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack against them all,” states Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.

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[-] TropicalDingdong@lemmy.world 59 points 8 months ago

Can't lose what you never had. Its laughable to pretend that Trump ever had a clue as to what NATO is or does.

[-] mojofrododojo@lemmy.world 42 points 8 months ago

He doesn't understand OUR military, how is he going to comprehend the utility of a trans-national mutual defense accord?

I'm frankly amazed he doesn't choke on his food, he's so fucking stupid.

[-] Igloojoe@lemm.ee 19 points 8 months ago

If Putin doesn't like it, then Trump doesn't like it. He probably doesn't even know why.

[-] knobbysideup@sh.itjust.works 12 points 8 months ago

He thinks NATO is his slum tenants and fancies himself a mob boss getting paid protection money.

[-] TexasDrunk@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago

My suspicion is that he got NATO and NAFTA confused years ago and never admitted it. Now he believes it's about trade and defense.

this post was submitted on 14 Feb 2024

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