US President Donald Trump has introduced a new dose of uncertainty on the issue of whether Washington will comply with the collective defense commitments in the NATO treaty, the agencies reported, BTA reported.
"It depends on which definition you stick to", he answered a question from reporters on the way to The Hague, which is hosting the alliance summit. "There are many definitions of Article Five. You know that, right? But I'm committed to being their friend," Trump added.
When asked later to clarify what he meant, he replied that he was "committed to saving lives and to life and safety," but added that he did not want to comment because, according to him, this was not a topic that he could seriously discuss during a plane trip.
This ambiguous answer of his to journalists on board the presidential plane "Air Force One" during the trip to the Netherlands may be a harbinger of an upcoming new controversial statement by the Republican president within the framework of the forum of an organization that he has so often ridiculed, the agencies note.
Article Five of the NATO treaty refers to the principle of collective defense in the alliance. In other words, if one NATO country is attacked, then all other members are obligated to come to its aid.