Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr. emphasizes the importance of upholding alliances like NATO for U.S. credibility, in light of former President Trump's disparaging remarks.

In response to Trump's suggestion that he would allow Russia to assert control over NATO members who fail to meet spending obligations, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, underscores the critical need to maintain and strengthen U.S. alliances. During a Nightly News interview, he asserted that U.S. leadership remains essential and closely observed by allies. Jason Miller, a senior adviser to the Trump campaign, defended Trump’s stance, arguing it led to increased NATO spending among allies. Trump, however, has a history of criticizing NATO and conditioning support on financial contributions, raising concerns about collective defense commitments.