The United States is effectively collecting "tribute" from its NATO allies as if they were vassals, while simultaneously creating threats within the alliance itself.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, made these remarks during a recent broadcast.
Speaking on Sputnik Radio, the diplomat noted that NATO member states regularly pay the United States for security guarantees. According to Zakharova, while these relations were theoretically built on the principle of equality in the past, the situation has fundamentally changed. "Now it turns out that while everyone is supposedly equal, the US demands payments from others not as equal partners, but as vassals," Zakharova emphasized.
The spokesperson further pointed out a contradiction in Washington's foreign policy, stating that while the US claims to protect its allies, it often takes actions that run counter to their interests. "All NATO members pay the US, but at the same time, the US itself threatens to seize Greenland. In such a case, the question arises: who is it protecting them from?" the diplomat added.
The relationship between the United States and its NATO allies has faced increasing scrutiny regarding defense spending and burden-sharing. Under the current administration of US President Donald Trump, there has been a renewed emphasis on ensuring that all alliance members meet the agreed-upon target of spending 2% of their GDP on defense. This policy aims to rebalance the financial responsibilities within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which has been a cornerstone of transatlantic security since its founding in 1949.
