​Former US President Donald Trump, who is aiming for a new term in the White House, said on Wednesday that NATO has been “taken advantage of” by the United States and that his commitment to the alliance will depend on how Europeans treat the US, Reuters reported on Thursday and Agerpres.

Donald Trump in one of the most famous photos of his presidency: at the 2018 G7 summit in CanadaPhoto: German Federal Government / UPI / Profimedia Images

Republican inauguration front-runner Trump was asked by Fox News live panel hosts about his stance on NATO — a question that came after it emerged Wednesday that he told top European officials while he was president that the U.S. would never help Europe. if she is attacked. .

“It depends on whether they treat us right,” the former Republican president responded during an appearance on Fox News.

“Listen, NATO took advantage of our country. European countries took advantage,” he added.

During his 2017-2021 presidency, Trump repeatedly clashed with traditional allies over trade and defense spending.

What Trump would convey to the head of the EU regarding American aid

According to European Commissioner Thierry Breton, the United States will never help Europe if it is attacked and will leave NATO, which is dead, Donald Trump allegedly told European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in 2020, when she was still president.

“You have to understand that if Europe is attacked, we will never come to help you and support you,” Trump would say, according to Breton, the French commissioner responsible for the European Union’s internal market, at the World Economic Forum in Davos. in January 2020.

“By the way, NATO is dead and we’re going to leave, we’re going to leave NATO,” Trump allegedly said, according to Breton, who made the revelation at an event organized by the Renew Europe political party in the European Parliament. Asked whether von der Leyen’s recollection of Trump’s remarks coincided with Breton’s, a spokesman for the president of the European Commission declined to comment, according to Reuters.

Trump maintains a wide lead in the race to become the Republican nominee against President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 election, according to a Reuters/Ipsos national poll released on Wednesday.

The poll shows Trump with a 49% lead, ahead of Haley at 12% and DeSantis at 11%.