PARIS — Former U.S. President Donald Trump's threat to NATO drew a sharp riposte from Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who argued on Monday that the alliance should never waiver in its ideal of "All for one, and one for all!"
"The EU's and NATO's philosophy" is like the "Three Musketeers," said Tusk, choosing the most appropriate reference — from France's greatest swashbuckler novel — ahead of a working lunch with President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
Trump's suggestion on Saturday that he would encourage Russian President Vladimir Putin to attack any NATO member that did not meet its spending targets has triggered outrage in Europe.
Neither Tusk nor Macron made specific reference to the comments from the Republican presidential front-runner, but both argued for solidarity in their statements to the press.
"Europe must become a secure continent, and France and Poland must become strong, and ready to defend its borders and its territory. And they must be ready to defend their allies outside the EU," the Polish prime minister added, in a clear reference to Ukraine, as fears grow that U.S. Republicans will turn their backs on Kyiv.
European leaders and officials have been reacting with disbelief to Trump's comments, with some saying it was "reckless" and others that it "undermines Europe's security".
The French president, who sparked controversy when he said that NATO was experiencing "brain-death" in 2019 when Trump was in power, argued Europe should focus on becoming "a security power" that is "complementary" to NATO and a "European pillar of the Atlantic alliance."
"We need to start with our operational and industrial cooperation," he said.
Macron has long argued that Europe should invest more in its own security, drawing criticism at times from allies who see him as pushing France's own military industry, while contributing very little in terms of arms to fighting the Russians in Ukraine.
The bilateral meeting in Paris was also a moment for the leaders to mark the revival of the Weimar format between France, Germany and Poland. "Welcome back dear Donald," said a smiling Macron. Tusk said he was starting his premiership with a "revitalization" of relations with "our great European partners," with stops in Brussels, Kyiv and Paris.
"France and Poland have a long bilateral tradition, we are friends and we can count on one another. And in these taxing times, the political positions of France and Poland are very close on internal [EU] issues and on geopolitical issues in the context of the aggression against Ukraine," said the Polish PM.
Tusk is to set to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz later on Monday.