“President Donald Trump will never allow the United States to be treated unfairly or taken advantage of by ‘so-called allies,’” said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly. The backdrop to the statement is an interview given by Donald Tusk to the Financial Times.
In the interview published on Friday, Prime Minister Tusk stated that “the biggest and most important question for Europe is whether the United States is ready to be as loyal as described in our treaties (NATO).” He also added that Russia could attack a member of the Alliance in a timeframe of “months rather than years.”
Tusk’s remarks were addressed by the U.S. Ambassador to Poland, Tom Rose.
In his statement, the diplomat assured that Donald Trump’s commitment to Poland is “iron clad, rock solid and well deserved.” “America is proud to stand with Poland because Poland has always stood with us,” he emphasized, adding that the United States is loyal to its allies.
“But we too ask if our allies are as loyal to us as they expect us to be to them?”
Rose concluded.
“Trump expressed disappointment”
“President Trump has clearly expressed disappointment with NATO and other allies. The United States maintains thousands of troops in Europe, and yet requests (by the U.S. – ed.) to use military bases to defend American interests have been rejected,” White House spokesperson Anna Kelly wrote in response to a question from the Polish Press Agency regarding the White House’s comment on Tusk’s interview with the Financial Times.
“The President has successfully restored America’s position on the international stage and strengthened foreign relations, but at the same time, he will never allow the United States to be treated unfairly or exploited by ‘so-called allies’,”
she added.
Kaczyński: Tusk is harming the alliance
Jarosław Kaczyński, leader of the Law and Justice party, was asked about the matter by journalists.
“At this moment, the guarantee of our security is the alliance with the United States, and the prospect of increasing the number of American troops in Poland and establishing a permanent base. I don’t know whether it will materialize. Tusk is doing everything to ensure it does not. That would significantly enhance our security. Above all, we must rearm (…) we must have a very strong army; certain legislative measures would also be useful,”
he said.
He added that “[Tusk] is harming [the Polish-American alliance] in a deliberate manner, and as if it were not even his own idea. It is a German idea.”
