Donald Trump’s suggestion Brazil should be given NATO membership was rejected (Image: Getty Images)
The US leader, who once described the alliance as “obsolete,” has been unrelenting in his criticism of his EU allies, accusing them of not spending enough on their own armed forces. French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnès von der Mühll said: “NATO is an alliance of nations linked by a collective defence clause, in conformity with the Washington Treaty of April 4, 1949, which defines the geographical field of application. Article 10 of the alliance’s founding treaty confines membership to European countries.”
Brazil could follow in the footsteps of neighbouring Columbia and join NATO as a “global partner,” Mrs von der Mühll suggested, adding that such alliances “strengthen international stability”.
The alliance reached a partnership agreement with Colombia back in May 2017, saying they would cooperate on global security areas like cyber and maritime security, terrorism and links to organized crime.
Columbia is currently the only Latin American nation in the alliance. Other global partners include Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Such partners do not necessarily have to take part in military action, but are fully accredited in Brussels.
French Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Agnès von der Mühll
