The Cable
The Cable goes inside the foreign policy machine, from Foggy Bottom to Turtle Bay, the White House to Embassy Row.

Biden to the Baltics: Don’t Take Trump’s NATO Comments Seriously

The vice president says Trump doesn't know what NATO's mutual defense article is.

By , a staff writer at Foreign Policy from 2014-2017.
GettyImages-594382948
GettyImages-594382948

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has raised doubts about the American commitment to come to the defense of NATO allies, a comment that understandably spooked Baltic members of the alliance. On Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden sought to quell those fears.

Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump has raised doubts about the American commitment to come to the defense of NATO allies, a comment that understandably spooked Baltic members of the alliance. On Tuesday, Vice President Joe Biden sought to quell those fears.

Speaking in Latvia — a country with a large Russian population that fears it could be Russian President Vladimir Putin’s next target — Biden suggested that Trump did not understand NATO’s Article 5, which states an attack against one member of the alliance is an attack against all 28 NATO members.

“I want to make it absolutely clear to all the people in Baltic states: We have pledged our sacred honor, the United States of America … to the NATO treaty and Article 5,” Biden said in the Latvian capital Riga.

He added, “I don’t think he understands what Article 5 is,” referring to Trump. The only time NATO has invoked Article 5 was to defend Trump’s hometown after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks.

The GOP nominee has suggested that the United States would not come to the aid of NATO members who did not spend 2 percent of GDP on defense, a requirement that is only met by the United States, Greece, the United Kingdom, Estonia, and Poland. He made this comment in June, when asked about Russia’s threatening activities, including its annexation of Crimea in Ukraine. He’s the first major U.S. presidential candidate who has suggested that aiding NATO allies could be optional.

Concerns about Trump’s stance have been heightened by his budding bromance with Putin. He’s called on Russia to hack his Democratic rival, Hillary Clinton. Trump has also praised the Russian strongman, and vice versa; Putin has called Trump “bright,” and the businessman welcomed the compliment. Some senior Trump campaign officials also have financial ties to the Kremlin.

Despite Trump’s stance on NATO and warm ties with Russia, Biden sought to reassure allies that the U.S. commitment was unwavering.

“The fact that you occasionally hear something from a presidential candidate in the other party, it’s … nothing that should be taken seriously,” he said.

Photo credit: PETRAS MALUKAS/Getty Images

David Francis was a staff writer at Foreign Policy from 2014-2017.

More from Foreign Policy

A man walks in front of an animated map of the world at an exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum.
A man walks in front of an animated map of the world at an exhibition at the Hong Kong Science Museum.

China Is Selectively Bending History to Suit Its Territorial Ambitions

Beijing’s unwillingness to let go of certain claims suggests there’s more at stake than reversing past losses.

Benjamin Netanyahu walks past Joe Biden as he prepares to sign the guestbook at the Prime Minister's residence on March 9, 2010 in Jerusalem.
Benjamin Netanyahu walks past Joe Biden as he prepares to sign the guestbook at the Prime Minister's residence on March 9, 2010 in Jerusalem.

The United States Has Less Leverage Over Israel Than You Think

A close look at the foundations of U.S. influence—and the lack of it.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his ballots at a polling station in Tehran on March 1.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks after casting his ballots at a polling station in Tehran on March 1.

Khamenei’s Strategy to Dominate the Middle East Will Outlive Him

Iran’s aging supreme leader is ensuring that any successor will stay the course.

A photo collage illustration of a finger made of bits of contracts and pieces of tech to represent a large corporation, pushing down on the American flag.
A photo collage illustration of a finger made of bits of contracts and pieces of tech to represent a large corporation, pushing down on the American flag.

America Has a Resilience Problem

The chair of the Federal Trade Commission makes the case for competition in an increasingly consolidated world.