Seeking a second term as the 2024 Republican nominee for the White House, Donald Trump said Saturday during a campaign rally in Conway, South Carolina, that he would “encourage” Russia to attack any of the US’s NATO allies who considers that they have not fulfilled their financial obligations.

The former president expressed reservations about aid to Ukraine as well as the existence of NATO.

In particular, Donald Trump claimed yesterday that during an unspecified NATO meeting he told a head of state that the US under his leadership would not defend any country that was “offending”.

“One of the presidents of a major country stood up and said, ‘Well, sir, if we don’t pay and we get attacked by Russia, are you going to protect us?'” Trump said, adding, “I said, ‘You didn’t pay, are you delinquent?’ No, I wouldn’t protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want. You must pay. You have to pay your bills” said Donald Trump during his speech.

Trump’s comments come as the war in Ukraine rages and Republicans in Congress grow increasingly skeptical of providing additional aid to the country as it struggles with stalled counterattacks and weapons shortages.