Furious David Cameron slams Trump over Nato comments as army boss calls him 'strategically illiterate'
WATCH: Sir Chris Bryant discusses Donald Trump
David Cameron has hit out at Donald Trump over his remarks on the Russian invasion, dismissing him as having not taken "a sensible approach".
A former commander of the US army in Europe, Ben Hodges, also hit out at the remarks, describing them as "strategically illiterate".
This came after the former US President suggested he would encourage Russia to attack "delinquent" Nato countries.
Speaking at a rally last weekend, Trump said: “I said: ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’... ‘No I would not protect you, in fact I would encourage them [Russia] to do whatever they want. You gotta pay."
David Cameron has hit out at Donald Trump over his remarks on the Russian invasion, dismissing him as having not taken "a sensible approach"
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Discussing Trump's remarks, Cameron said: "I am a very strong supporter of Nato.
"It is what helps keep us safe and that is so essential in this world where we have seen Putin’s terrible invasion of Ukraine.
"And actually Nato this year has got stronger, with Sweden and Finland joining."
He added: "Of course we want countries, like us, to spend two per cent, but I think what was said was not a sensible approach."
While Hodges dubbed Trump's coments "strategically illiterate", warning they risk “screwing” the United States’ own security interests.
He added: "We depend on access in Europe, with bases in almost every country in Europe and all around the Mediterranean.
The former US President suggested he would encourage Russia to attack "delinquent" Nato countries.
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"These bases are important for us and for our contribution to Nato. They’re not here to guard Germans, they’re here for us and also for what we do in Africa and the Middle East."
Hodges warned that Trump is "absolutely prepared" to turn away from Europe if he returns to the White House.
He told the Times: "This has nothing to do with whether or not Germany meets its two per cent [Nato target for proportion of GDP spent on defence] or whether Norway does or Canada does.
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"Trump hates alliances. He hates an obligation where he’d have to live up to something.
“Mafia type that he is, he doesn’t want anybody restricting his options. He couldn’t care less about moral obligations. He’s willing to chuck the whole thing away.
“We would be foolish not to take at face value exactly what he says. In his last term he did have people around him who were able to moderate certain things, at least for a period of time … He won’t make that mistake again."
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