In a meeting held during the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020, former US President Donald Trump reportedly conveyed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen that the United States would not provide military assistance to Europe in the event of an attack, as per a Politico report citing an EU official.
Thierry Breton, European Commissioner for the Internal Market, shared this information during an event in the European Parliament in Brussels, disclosing Trump's statement that implied, "You need to understand that if Europe is under attack, we will never come to help you." Breton, who was present at the Davos meeting, also mentioned Trump's assertion that "NATO was dead" and that the US would withdraw from the alliance, insisting that Germany owed $400 billion for defense.
This disclosure comes amid the Republican Party's fifth presidential debate in Iowa, where Trump is leading in polls for the 2024 presidential election. The EU has expressed concerns about the potential return of Trump to the US presidency, considering it a significant wake-up call and highlighting the need to bolster their preparedness within the NATO framework.
