MADRID, February 21. /TASS/. The policy of US President Donald Trump essentially signifies a break with the European Union, ultimately burying the North Atlantic Alliance, said former Chief of the General Staff of the Portuguese Armed Forces (2006-2011), General Luis Walesa Pinto.
"At this moment, if the situation does not change drastically, [it can be stated that] the NATO bloc is dead, since the ties between the Atlantic states have been broken. What kind of <...> relations can you have with a person who makes statements like Trump?" he said in an interview with the Lusa news agency.
According to the general, the US has become antagonistic towards Europe under Trump. Pinto also called on the EU members to unite to "take care of their security."
"How does the United States view the world and Europe? They look at the EU with disdain and hostility. The best thing we can do <...> is to start productive cooperation with all EU members," he said.
Mike Waltz, US National Security Adviser, on February 20, said that the Trump administration insists that all NATO allies fulfill their obligations to bring military spending to 2% of GDP by the next summit of the alliance in June this year. After taking office as head of state, Trump has repeatedly said that his intention was to ensure that NATO members in Europe increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.