Donald Trump has said Russia is only fearful of NATO with the US as a member.
In a news conference on Friday, the US president claimed: “NATO was gone until I came along”.
“President Putin will tell you that without the United States, he wouldn’t be worried, but he is worried when the United States is involved,” he said.
Mr Trump also alleged the previous and current NATO secretary generals said: “If it wasn’t for Trump, you wouldn’t even have NATO because we were paying the costs of almost all of the countries.”
Mr Trump made the comments as he announced in the White House that Boeing has won a contract to develop the US Air Force’s most sophisticated fighter jet yet.
The new sixth-generation jet would be named F-47, Mr Trump said.
“Nothing in the world comes close to it… it’s something the likes of which nobody has seen before,” he added.
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“(The F-47) will be the most lethal aircraft ever built.”
On defence, Mr Trump said the US is also “well-equipped” to fight any potential war with China.
“We don’t want to have a potential war with China. But I can tell you if we did, we’re very well-equipped to handle it,” he said.
He also rejected reports that his adviser Elon Musk would be briefed on how the United States would fight a hypothetical war with China – a rare suggestion that his far-reaching role in the administration will face limits.
“Elon has businesses in China,” he said. “And he would be susceptible, perhaps, to that.”
The president confirmed he would be speaking to China’s president Xi Jinping about tariffs. Mr Trump also said there was flexibility on his controversial economic measure.
It comes as Mr Trump expressed enthusiasm for possibly becoming a member of the Commonwealth.
Sharing an article on his Truth Social network about plans to allegedly make the USA the next associate member, the President wrote: “I Love King Charles. Sounds good to me!”
‘Our allies are calling constantly’
The plane’s design remains a closely-held secret, but would likely include stealth, advanced sensors, and cutting-edge engines.
The initial contract to proceed with production on the jets is worth an estimated $20bn (£15.5bn).
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Mr Trump said the jets will be built over several years and “it’s something nobody has ever seen before”.
“Our allies are calling constantly,” Trump said, adding foreign sales could be an option. “They want to buy them also.”
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After saying the US would “tone down” the new jets by 10% for any sales to allies, Trump said: “[It] probably makes sense, because someday, maybe they’re not our allies.”
Critics have questioned the cost and the necessity of the programme as the Pentagon is still struggling to fully produce its current most advanced jet, the F-35, which is expected to cost taxpayers more than $1.7tr (£1.01tr) over its lifespan.
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‘I’ll pay out of my own pocket’
Meanwhile, Mr Trump said he will pay NASA astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore overtime pay after their trip to the International Space Station lasted nine months longer than planned.
A reporter at the news conference said the pair are not entitled to overtime pay, prompting Mr Trump to say: “If I have to, I’ll pay it out of my own pocket.”
