Nikki Haley, an Indian-American Republican presidential candidate, has stated that if elected, her administration will enhance alliances with India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, in addition to NATO.
Haley, 52, the former US Ambassador to the United Nations, stated that if former US President Donald Trump is re-elected, a threat to the NATO alliance is one of her main concerns.
“I’m worried about a lot of things if Trump is re-elected. That is one of them,” she told ABC News, adding that NATO is a 75-year success story.
Haley is the sole remaining challenger against Trump in the Republican Party’s 2024 presidential primary race.
According to Haley, a two-term former South Carolina governor, Russia has never invaded a NATO territory because the organization has historically frightened Russia.
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance comprised of 31 member states, 29 European and two North American.
Even China is terrified by this cooperation. As a result, Haley believes that NATO must remain strong.
Haley was replying to a question on Trump’s words in South Carolina a week earlier, when he said he would welcome Russia to do “whatever the hell they want” to any NATO member countries that fails to fulfill defense expenditure criteria.
It is critical to expand one’s social circle. This is not the moment to end an alliance. This is not the time to stand with a thug while ignoring friends that supported America following the September 11 attacks, Haley said.
“We have to make sure that we stand firm. Because when we stand firm with our friends, our enemies stay on their heels. When we start to show any weakening of those alliances, that’s when our enemies move. That’s why we’re seeing China on the march. That’s why we’re seeing Iran want to build a nuclear bomb. That’s why we’re seeing Russia start to move towards Poland and the Baltics,” she said.
“And that’s what I promise I will do as president, is we not only will strengthen NATO, we will strengthen alliances with India, Australia, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines. We will add to the fold. This is about America having more friends, not less friends,” Haley said in response to a question.
Haley described Trump’s NATO comments as “bone-chilling” and motivating for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“And all he did in that moment was, he sided with a guy who kills his political opponents, he sided with a thug who arrests American journalists and holds them hostage,” she said.
Haley also accused incumbent President Joe Biden, a Democrat, of failing on several fronts.
“That has emboldened our enemies. That’s why you see them moving. It happened after the fall of Afghanistan. It is continuing to happen. Then they go and they see the other opponent running for – for president and they see that he doesn’t worry about Putin invading Ukraine. So, what does Putin do? He goes and now he’s starting to put soldiers around the Baltics. He’s moving in for the next era,” she said.
“Let’s remind the American people that Putin said once he takes Ukraine, Poland and the Baltics are next. Now he is putting soldiers around those countries, just like he did Ukraine. And if that happens, those are NATO countries. That immediately puts America at war. That is what we are trying to avoid. And that’s why this aid package is so important,” she said.