Donald Trump's comments about NATO and Russia spark firestorm

"During a 45-minute conversation, he explicitly raised new questions about his commitment to automatically defend NATO allies if they are attacked, saying he would first look at their contributions to the alliance. ...

"He even called into question whether, as president, he would automatically extend the security guarantees that give the other 28 members of NATO the assurance that the full force of the United States military has their back.

"For example, asked about Russia's threatening activities that have unnerved the small Baltic States that are the most recent entrants into NATO, Mr. Trump said that if Russia attacked them, he would decide whether to come to their aid only after reviewing whether those nations 'have fulfilled their obligations to us.'"