Trump allegedly cautioned NATO ally: Increase defense spending or Russia will have free rein.

On Saturday, Donald Trump, the leading Republican candidate, stated that as president, he would urge Russia to take any action it desired against countries that were behind on their payments, while intensifying his criticism of foreign aid and longstanding international partnerships.

At a rally in Conway, South Carolina, Trump repeated a story he has shared before about a NATO member who challenged him over his pledge not to defend allies who do not meet the alliance's defense spending goals.

Trump added that he would "encourage" Russia to act as it pleases if the member pressed him on the matter.

Trump stated, "You didn't pay? You're delinquent? I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You gotta pay. You gotta pay your bills."

In 2014, following Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, NATO allies decided to halt their post-Cold War spending cuts and aim to spend 2% of their GDPs on defense by 2024.

As Ukraine continues to fight off Russia's 2022 invasion and faces challenges with stalled counteroffensives and weapons shortages, Trump's comments have raised concerns among Republicans in Congress about providing additional aid money to the country.

As Trump and his team gain confidence in winning the nomination, they are more optimistic about securing it in the upcoming weeks after winning decisively in the first votes of the 2024 Republican nominating calendar.

Trump advocated for the termination of foreign aid "STRINGS" on Saturday, asserting that the U.S. should drastically alter its financial assistance approach.

"Starting from now, are you paying attention, U.S. Senate? No foreign aid money should be given to any country unless it is a loan, not just a handout," Trump wrote on his social media platform in all-caps letters.

Trump stated that the loan could be granted "ON EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD TERMS," with no interest and no repayment date. However, he added that if the country being helped ever turns against the US or becomes rich in the future, the loan will be paid off and the money returned to the US.

In his 2016 campaign, Trump threatened to abandon the United States' NATO treaty commitments if countries did not meet the alliance's guidelines by spending 2% of their GDP on the military.

Trump, as president, eventually endorsed NATO's Article 5 mutual defense clause, which states that an armed attack against one or more of its members shall be considered an attack against all members. However, he frequently portrayed NATO allies as freeloaders on the U.S. military and openly questioned the worth of the military alliance that has shaped American foreign policy for decades.

In 2022, seven NATO member countries were meeting their obligation, up from three in 2014. Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine has prompted additional military spending by some NATO members.

Trump frequently boasts about the increase in NATO funding, claiming it's due to his threats, despite the fact that countries do not pay NATO directly.