The White House on Saturday strongly criticized former US President Donald Trump’s claims that he would not defend his NATO allies against a possible Russian invasion, calling them “horrible and crazy,” Reuters reported.

Trump, who appeared to be talking about a meeting with NATO leaders at a political rally in South Carolina on Saturday, quoted the president of a “major country” he did not name and asked him: “Well, sir, if we don’t pay and Russia attacks – will you protect us?”.

“I asked, ‘Didn’t you pay? Do you pay badly?`. He said, “Yes, let’s say so.” No, I wouldn’t defend you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You have to pay.”

White House: “Horrible and crazy statements”

Asked about Trump’s remarks, White House spokesman Andrew Bates said: “Encouraging the invasion of our closest allies by criminal regimes is appalling and insane and threatens US national security, global stability and our economy.”

The NATO Treaty contains a provision that guarantees the mutual defense of member states in the event of an attack on one of them.

Trump, who is the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has been a fierce critic of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization during his time as president, repeatedly threatening to withdraw from the alliance.

He cut defense funding for NATO and often complained that the United States was paying more than was fair.

Europeans fear that Donald Trump will endanger NATO

Bates said President Joe Biden had re-energized US alliances after taking office in 2021, saying NATO was now “the biggest and most important it’s ever been”.

“Instead of calling for wars and promoting maddened chaos, President Biden will continue to strengthen American leadership and support our national security interests — not against them,” he said in a statement released Saturday night.

With Trump ahead of Biden in some polls, European allies fear a Trump victory in November could jeopardize US commitments to the alliance, but NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said last month he did not believe a second Trump presidency would jeopardize US membership.

Stoltenberg, who has pressed member states to increase defense spending, said European allies were increasing their military contributions and “going in the right direction.”

In an interview with German media on Saturday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Europeans to increase arms production to increase supplies to Ukraine and prevent a confrontation with Russia “that could last for decades.”