VIRGINIA, USA — Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine called former President Donald Trump's recent comments about NATO "the height of irresponsibility."
Trump recently said that he would encourage Russia to attack NATO nations not spending enough on defense as part of a mutual protection agreement.
Kaine said on Wednesday that a provision he wrote in this year's defense bill would go a long way toward preserving the United State's commitment to the alliance.
"This puts up a guardrail — it's not a guarantee," said Kaine. "There's still things a president could do that would weaken NATO. But no president can now unilaterally withdraw from NATO without either a two-thirds vote of the Senate or an act of Congress."
He added: "Neither President Trump or any president would be able to get that from this Congress. We are strongly in support of our allies."
The U.S. became a founding member of NATO in July 1949 — making this year the 75th anniversary of the alliance.