WASHINGTON \u2013 The United Kingdom’s defense minister called collective defense of NATO nations an “absolute commitment” Thursday, following comments from US presidential candidate Donald Trump that called into question the candidate’s support for the military alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In an interview released Wednesday night, Trump told the New York Times that he would consider whether to defend NATO allies on a case by case basis and not automatically come to their aid, as is required under the terms of the NATO alliance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In particular, Trump said that if Russia attacked the Baltic States he would decide to come to their aid based on whether those countries “have fulfilled their obligations to us.” His comment set off rapid condemnation from foreign policy experts, foreign leaders and supporters of Trump’s democratic opponent Hilary Clinton, as well as defense hawks within the Republican party.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UK defense head Michael Fallon, one of the few members of the UK cabinet to remain following the transition from David Cameron’s government to that of Theresa May, made it clear he sees no situation in which the US should not uphold its collective defense requirements as spelled out under NATO’s Article 5 language.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Article 5 is an absolute commitment. It doesn’t come with conditions or caveats,” Fallon said during an appearance in Washington. “It is an absolute commitment that we help each other if any one member of NATO is attacked.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moreover, Fallon noted, NATO allies are stepping up in ways they hadn’t in the past, underscoring the importance of the partnership in the face of aggression from Russia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
William Cohen, the Clinton-era US defense secretary who was hosting the event with Fallon, offered his support for Fallon’s statement on NATO to reporters after the event.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Article 5, it’s not conditional,” Cohen said. “If you’re a member of NATO, you’re attacked, we’ll be there.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The United Kingdom is, of course, in the midst of figuring out how to follow through on a public referendum to leave the European Union. While those details are being sorted, Fallon insisted that the move away from the EU will not mean a reduction in the UK’s global role.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“A powerful NATO is vital to our future, but so too are our key bilateral relationships,” Fallon said. “Leaving the European Union means we will be working harder to commit more to NATO, but we will also be working harder with our key allies.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n