President Biden calls Trump's Nato comments 'shameful'

President Biden has criticized former President Donald Trump's comments about NATO as "shameful." During his presidency, Trump often expressed criticism and skepticism towards NATO, calling it "obsolete" and arguing that member countries were not paying their fair share. Biden's remarks came during a press conference after a meeting with NATO leaders in Brussels. When asked about Trump's comments, Biden stated, "I think it's important for people to know that America has a sacred obligation to our NATO allies. And at the summit, I made it clear that the United States' commitment to NATO is rock solid." The president emphasized the importance of NATO as a "mutual defense pact" and highlighted the need for unity among member countries. "We're there to defend each other. We're there to stand up for each other," Biden said. "And politically, we stand together in the face of any threat to our mutual democratic values, as we did during the Cold War." He went on to call Trump's comments about NATO "shortsighted" and "damaging." Biden stated, "They were a reflection of how President Trump viewed alliances in general. I think it's a shameful act. It's not appropriate to make those comments about an alliance that has been so important to us and has been so critical to maintaining peace and stability in Europe." During his presidency, Trump often clashed with NATO leaders over defense spending. He frequently criticized other member countries for not meeting the alliance's target of spending 2% of their GDP on defense. Biden also addressed this issue, stating that while he expects every NATO member to fulfill their defense spending commitments, his focus is on strengthening the alliance. "I'm committed to rebuilding our alliances and engaging with the world once again," Biden said. "But I make no apologies for pushing our NATO allies to increase their investments in our collective defense." The president also discussed the importance of NATO in addressing emerging security challenges, such as cyber threats and climate change. He emphasized the need for NATO to adapt and evolve to meet these new challenges. "NATO must continue to evolve to meet the threats of today and tomorrow," Biden said. "That requires investing in our collective defense, deterring Russian aggression, and addressing emerging threats like cyber and climate change." During the press conference, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which states that an attack on one member country is considered an attack on all. He stated, "I've repeated it since I've been here: I just want all of Europe to know that the United States is there. The United States is there." Biden's criticism of Trump's NATO comments reflects a broader shift in US foreign policy under the new administration. While Trump pursued a more isolationist approach and questioned the value of international alliances, Biden has prioritized rebuilding alliances and multilateral cooperation. During his first foreign trip as president, Biden has taken steps to repair relationships with allies strained during the Trump era. In addition to attending the NATO summit, he also participated in the G7 summit and held a bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Overall, Biden's remarks about Trump's NATO comments highlight his commitment to strengthening the alliance and rebuilding relationships with allies. He criticized Trump's skepticism towards NATO as "shameful" and emphasized the importance of the alliance in maintaining peace and stability. With his focus on unity and collective defense, Biden aims to revitalize NATO and address the emerging security challenges of the 21st century.