UPDATE - Trump casts doubt on support NATO would provide if US 'really needed' alliance

ADDS REMARKS BY WHITE HOUSE SPOKESPERSON

By Yasin Gungor

ISTANBUL (AA) - US President Donald Trump on Wednesday questioned whether NATO would come to Washington's support if the country genuinely needed the alliance's assistance, despite his commitment to backing member nations.

"Russia and China have zero fear of NATO without the United States, and I doubt NATO would be there for us if we really needed them," Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social.

He said Washington will maintain its alliance obligations regardless of reciprocity, claiming that Russia and China "respect" the US solely under his leadership.

Trump also took credit for increasing NATO members' defense spending from 2% of GDP to 5%, asserting that most countries had not been meeting their financial obligations until his involvement. He claimed America was "foolishly" covering their expenses before he got them to pay "immediately."

In a later news briefing, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt told reporters that Trump's position on NATO remains unchanged.

Asked whether Trump is still committed to NATO's Article Five clause for collective defense, Leavitt pointed to remarks he made earlier in the day, saying the US “will always be there for NATO, even if they are not there for us,” which she argued underscores his continued commitment to the alliance.

NATO allies agreed at a June summit in The Hague to raise their defense spending target to 5% of annual GDP by 2035.

Trump also criticized Norway, a NATO member, for not awarding him the Nobel Peace Prize, repeating his claim to "single-handedly" ending eight wars. "But that doesn't matter! What does matter is that I saved millions of lives," he added.