Former President Donald Trump has asserted that Russia and China show no concern for NATO without the participation of the United States. This statement came shortly after the US took control of two oil tankers linked to Venezuela.
In a post shared on Truth Social, Trump highlighted his role in pushing other NATO members to increase defense spending, which he believes has deterred Russia and China and provided protection to Ukraine. He also raised doubts about whether the alliance would come to America’s aid during a crisis, emphasizing his efforts to strengthen the country’s military in his first term.
Trump pointed out that prior to his leadership, NATO members were only contributing 2% of their GDP to defense and were not fulfilling their financial obligations. He claimed credit for raising their contributions to 5% of GDP during his tenure.
The former president also took credit for preventing Russia from seizing Ukraine and claimed to have ended eight conflicts single-handedly. He criticized Norway, a NATO member, for not acknowledging him with the Nobel Peace Prize.
Trump expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of NATO for the US, stating that the only nation Russia and China fear and respect is a US military revitalized under his administration. He emphasized America’s commitment to NATO despite questioning the alliance’s reciprocity.
These comments on NATO followed a statement from the White House indicating Trump’s interest in acquiring Greenland, a semi-autonomous region of Denmark and a NATO member, as a national security priority. The Danish Prime Minister warned that any aggression towards Greenland by the US would jeopardize the NATO alliance.
Furthermore, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt suggested that US control of Greenland would act as a deterrent to China and Russia in the Arctic region. This move was justified as a means to enhance control over the strategic Arctic area and prevent further aggression by adversaries.
In addition to the Greenland ambitions, Trump’s recent actions in Venezuela have raised concerns among NATO members. The US military seized two oil tankers linked to Venezuela, with the M/T Sophia vessel intercepted in the Caribbean Sea by the US Southern Command. The vessel, engaged in illicit activities, is being escorted to the US by the Coast Guard.
Simultaneously, the US European Command announced the capture of a Russian-flagged vessel involved in Venezuelan oil transportation in the North Atlantic. The vessel, known as the Marinera (formerly Bella 1), was seized for violating US sanctions after being tracked for over two weeks across the Atlantic. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed British support in the operation along with RAF aircraft and naval supply ship RFA Tideforce in the Atlantic region.