'She wasn't well received': Georgia state lawmaker reveals how Harris is seen in community
Many Wall Street executives are worried about Trump but wary of Harris
Toyota global output falls for 7th straight month in August
Israel-Hamas war latest: With nearly 700 killed in a week, Lebanon fears Gaza-level violence
As the Ukraine war enters a critical period, the EU moves ahead without the US
Helene weakens to a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 70 mph over Georgia
World shares advance as China ups its stimulus and Japan's Ishiba is chosen to head its ruling party
Japan factory output seen down on weak overseas demand, typhoon disruptions: Reuters poll
Beijing pulls out the policy stops
Shohei Ohtani heads to 1st postseason after Dodgers clinch NL West title with a 7-2 win over Padres
Giants' Malik Nabers, Cowboys' Micah Parsons injured in Thursday night game
Chicago Sky fire coach Teresa Weatherspoon after 1 season, reports say
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump's comment that Washington might not defend NATO allies which failed to spend enough on defence is exactly what Russian President Vladimir Putin loves to hear, the Dutch defence minister said on Monday.
Trump suggested the United States might not protect NATO allies who aren't spending enough on defence from a potential Russian invasion.
"Quite frankly, I think this is exactly what Putin loves to hear," Dutch Defence Minister Kajsa Ollongren told Reuters on Monday. "Our strength is our unity. And if we're not united, it makes us weaker. And we know that that is what Putin is looking for."
Enshrined in Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty is the principle of collective defence - the idea that an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
"It's not the first time that he says something along these lines. But at the same time, it's of course worrying," Ollongren said.
"...And I think especially now, with real threats also to NATO countries, it's very concerning that someone who is that important is saying these things."
Ollongren also noted that most NATO allies were close to or had reached the target budget spending on defence of a minimum of 2% of gross domestic product.
(Reporting by Anthony Deutsch; Editing by Nick Macfie)
