Donald Trump's suggestion that he would encourage Russian aggression against "delinquent" NATO members caused concern in Europe and NATO, yet elicited minimal condemnation from GOP members.

Trump's statement about urging Russia to invade non-compliant NATO states shocked European and NATO officials, but within Washington, many Republicans either defended or downplayed his remarks. This reflects Trump's significant influence over the party and its departure from traditional defense stances. Despite his history of criticizing NATO, Trump's supporters argue he strengthened the alliance during his presidency by pressuring countries to increase defense spending. Trump's comments highlight a possible change in U.S. commitment to NATO, suggesting a conditional stance based on other countries' contributions.