Trump: Russia can do ‘what it wants’ to Nato allies who pay too little

White House rebukes former President for remark

Republican front-runner Donald Trump said Saturday that, as president, he warned Nato allies that he “would encourage” Russia “to do whatever the hell they want” to countries that are “delinquent” as he ramped up his attacks on foreign aid and longstanding international alliances.

Speaking at a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump recounted a story he has told before about an unidentified Nato member who confronted him over his threat not to defend members who fail to meet the transatlantic alliance's defense spending targets.

But this time, Trump went further, saying had told the member that he would, in fact, “encourage” Russia to do as it wishes in that case.

“You didn't pay? You're delinquent?'” Trump recounted saying. “No I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills.'” Nato allies agreed in 2014, after Russia annexed Ukraine's Crimean, to halt the spending cuts they had made after the Cold War and move toward spending 2 per cent of their GDPS on defense by 2024.

The White House pushed back against Trump’s claim. “Encouraging invasions of our closest allies by murderous

I WOULD ENCOURAGE THEM TO DO WHATEVER THE HELL THEY WANT. YOU GOTTA PAY. YOU GOTTA PAY YOUR BILLS DONALD TRUMP FORMER US PRESIDENT

regimes is appalling and unhinged – and it endangers American national security, global stability, and our economy at home,” White House spokesman said.

Russia launches 45 drones

Russian forces launched 45 drones over Ukraine on Sunday in a five-and-a-halfhour

barrage, officials said, as Zelenskyy continued the reshuffle of his war cabinet as the war enters its third year. The attack targeted agricultural facilities and coastal infrastructure

In a statement, the Ukrainian air force said it had shot down 40 of the Iranianmade Shahed drones.