What did Trump say about NATO funding and what is Article 5?

Did Trump cause another political tempest [in a teapot] by his campaign remarks last Saturday [2/10/2024]?

Unfortunately, warmongering is human nature! The peace that was maintained by NATO among its members and versus outsiders since 1949 is spectacular in human history. What an achievement!

Is it true that some members of NATO rely too much on the powerful military of  the U.S. to keep them safe. This can not be easily dismissed.

Do some NATO member countries underestimate the dangers of military aggression by Russia or China? Most certainly so!

The Europeans have to step up to help the U.S. to make the world a safer and more secure place as long as we still have dictatorial hegemons like Russia, Iran, China and so on!

Such criticism of NATO is not new by far! It is very appealing for a member to be a free rider of NATO of now 31 member countries. The larger NATO becomes the more incentives to shirk.

What is of course more important than the annual defense spending is the commitment to come to the defense of any member country that has been attacked.

"... Trump took his criticism to a new level at a campaign rally on Saturday in Conway, South Carolina, when he recounted what he said was a conversation with the "president of a big country".

"Well sir, if we don't pay, and we're attacked by Russia - will you protect us?" Trump quoted the unnamed leader as saying.

"I said: 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?' He said: 'Yes, let's say that happened.' No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay," Trump said. ...

However, NATO members have committed to spending at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) every year on defence - and most of them did not meet that goal last year.

HOW MANY NATO MEMBERS MEET THE DEFENCE SPENDING TARGET?

According to NATO estimates from July last year, only 11 members were expected to meet the 2% target in 2023. Those members were Poland, the United States, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Romania, Hungary, Latvia, Britain and Slovakia. ..."

What did Trump say about NATO funding and what is Article 5? | Reuters