Lithuania’s defense minister says Trump’s controversial statements about Greenland are part of “negotiating tactics” to strengthen NATO.
Lithuania’s Defense Minister: Trump’s Greenland Statements are Part of Negotiating Tactics
Lithuania’s Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas commented to Lithuanian journalists about Donald Trump’s actions. He emphasized that the US president proposes increasing defense spending of NATO countries to five percent of GDP. According to Kaunas, this shows that Trump wants to strengthen the North Atlantic Alliance.
The Lithuanian minister stated that Trump’s statements about the need for the US to take control of Greenland are part of “negotiating tactics.” “It can be extreme at times, but its goal is to strengthen NATO’s defense capabilities and ensure security for every member of the Pact,” he added.
Robertas Kaunas on NATO: Existing Agreements Remain in Force
According to Kaunas, Trump’s actions do not pose a threat to NATO’s existence. The Lithuanian defense minister said that although various opinions have emerged on this matter, NATO “functions, and existing agreements remain in force.”
He also stated that issues related to Greenland, which Americans are paying attention to, primarily concern US defense and that of the entire North Atlantic Alliance.
Donald Trump: NATO Must Treat Us Fairly
On Tuesday, January 20, Donald Trump spoke at a press conference at the White House. The US president said that he “has done more for NATO than any other person, living or dead.”
“NATO must treat us fairly. My biggest fear related to NATO is that we spend enormous amounts of money on this alliance and I know that we will come to their aid, but I wonder if they will come to our aid,” he stated.
