Security
US Senator: Trump won’t let allies down
US Senator JD Vance on the final day of the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel. photo
© Tobias Hase/dpa
Donald Trump has questioned NATO’s obligation to provide assistance and thereby alarmed the European allies. At the Munich Security Conference, one of his supporters tried to calm things down.
Republican US Senator JD Vance has assured NATO allies that they will also be under a US President Donald Trump could count on US support in the event of an attack. “Of course we love our NATO allies,” Trump supporter Vance told journalists on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
“We value the NATO alliance, and that applies across the entire political spectrum.” But Europe must become more independent in security issues, that is Trump’s message.
Deterrent signal required from Germany
The Republican particularly called on Germany to invest more in its armed forces. “If Germany has the fifth largest GDP (gross domestic product) in the world and Russia is not even among the top ten countries, shouldn’t Germany be able to provide effective deterrence on its own?” he asked, adding:
“This is not an argument that we should abandon Germany. This is an incentive for our German friends to take on a slightly larger role, because the United States will have other things to focus on in the next half century.”
Vance is one of the Republican members of Congress who are particularly close to former President Trump. A week ago, Trump questioned support for NATO allies who do not invest enough in defense. In doing so, he fueled the debate about how Germany and Europe can better protect themselves from attacks – up to and including their own European nuclear protective shield.
Ukraine package on the brink
The more than 30 members of the US Parliament who are taking part in the Munich Security Conference are among the most sought-after discussion partners this year. That’s because additional military aid worth around $60 billion (around €56 billion) is stuck because of resistance from some Republicans in Congress. The Senate has now agreed, but the vote of the House of Representatives – the second chamber of parliament – is still pending.
Vance estimated the chances of approval were 50-50 percent. He rejected the accusation that Republicans were blocking the package for electoral reasons. “Republicans are not blocking the Ukraine package because of Trump’s campaign. Republicans are skeptical of the Ukraine package because they believe it is not in the best interests of our country.” Trump wants to run again for the office of US President on November 5th.