Media: Trump assures allies Russia would not attack NATO while he is president

US President Donald Trump has reportedly assured NATO member states behind closed doors that Russia will not attack them while he remains in office.

As reported by The Washington Post, during the main session of the NATO summit on 25 June, Trump began with positive remarks about defence spending and pledged that Russia would never attack NATO while he is president, three European officials familiar with the discussions said.

Other leaders praised Trump’s efforts to increase Europe’s defence spending. Some also voiced support for his strikes on Iran.

Many leaders, as European officials say, resorted to flattery, which they believed to be a particularly effective way to gain Trump’s favour.

Trump stayed for the entire round of remarks, listening to other leaders – a departure from the behaviour of previous US presidents, who have sometimes delivered their own speech and then left for other meetings while others were still speaking.

"These people really love their countries. It’s not a rip-off, and we’re here to help them," President Trump said publicly when speaking to journalists about the NATO member states.

On 25 June, NATO countries declared Russia a long-term threat at the NATO summit.

The Allies also agreed on a framework to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.