NATO chief credits Trump for record number of members meeting spending targets

close

Video

More NATO allies hitting spending targets as war in Ukraine continues

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to discuss how NATO members have bolstered their spending, the latest on the war in Ukraine and how the alliance can counter aggression from countries like Russia and China.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg credited former President Trump on Tuesday for the record number of NATO member countries meeting their contribution requirements.

Stoltenberg joined Fox News on Tuesday to discuss the war in Ukraine and why he believes it is necessary for the U.S. to continue to support its defense. The NATO leader said member countries were stepping up their funding due to Russian hostility, but he also noted Trump's insistence on the issue during his time in office.

"I worked with [Trump] over those four years. And the reality is that he had a very clear message on the need for European allies to spend more. And I agree with him," Stoltenberg said.

"The good news is that, over the last year or so, we have seen a significant increase in spending by European allies. We still have a way to go, but, again, compared to where we started, we are in a much better place. I expect those allies that are not yet at 2% to be there within a few years."

IRAN CAPABLE OF BUILDING NUCLEAR BOMB IN ONE WEEK, REPORT FINDS AS MIDDLE EAST TENSIONS FLARE

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg credited former President Trump on Tuesday for the record number of NATO member countries meeting their contribution requirements. ((AP Photo/Virginia Mayo))

Stoltenberg also noted Russia's burgeoning friendships with China, North Korea and Iran. He argued that NATO countries should work to create "consequences" for China, in particular, regarding assistance to Russia.

US IGNORES IRAN’S ACTIVE NUCLEAR WEAPONS ACTIVITIES BY USING ‘DEFECTIVE’ DEFINITION: EXPERT

"Russia is receiving a lot of support from China, from North Korea and Iran and these authoritarian countries. They want the U.S., they want NATO – they want all of us to fail in Ukraine, because that will be not only a win for Putin, it will be a win for President Xi, for Iran and North Korea," he said.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also noted Russia's burgeoning friendships with China, North Korea and Iran. He argued that NATO and its allies should work to create "consequences" for China in particular regarding assistance to Russia. (Sputnik/Mikhail Metzel/Kremlin via Reuters/File Photo)

CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP

"China cannot have it both ways. They cannot continue to have a normal, friendly trading relationship with European and NATO allies and then continue to be the main supporter of the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War. So therefore, at some stage, European allies should also look into consequences," he said.