With defence spending set to rise, Trump reassures NATO allies
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Trump reassures NATO allies as defence spending to rise
NATO agrees to spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence over the next 10 years. The target is in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea. President Barack Obama said the move was necessary to protect the US from Russia’s influence. The move is seen as a response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s anti-Russian rhetoric. The U.S. is expected to announce a new policy on defence spending later this week. It is the first time since the Cold War that NATO has agreed to spend more than 2 per cent on defence. The previous target was 3 per cent, but the new target will be 1 per cent.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte acknowledged that it was not easy for European countries and Canada to find the extra money but said it was vital to do so.
“There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative,” he told reporters.
Speaking to media before the summit opened on Wednesday, Trump played down concerns over his commitment to mutual defence among allies as set out by Article 5 of NATO’s charter, saying: “We’re with them all the way.”
The debate has been fuelled by Trump’s own comments on the way to the summit on Tuesday.Â
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he had said there were “numerous definitions” of the clause.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, whose country borders Russia and joined NATO two years ago, said the alliance was evolving.
“I think we’re witnessing the birth of a new NATO, which means a more balanced NATO and a NATO which has more European responsibility,” he told reporters.
The new spending target – to be achieved over the next 10 years – is a jump worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year from the current goal of two per cent of GDP, although it will be measured differently.
Countries would spend 3.5 per cent of GDP on core defence – such as troops and weapons – and 1.5 per cent on broader defence-related measures such as cyber security, protecting pipelines and adapting roads and bridges to handle heavy military vehicles.
All NATO members have backed a statement enshrining the target, although Spain declared it does not need to meet the goal and can meet its commitments by spending much less.
Rutte disputes that but accepted a diplomatic fudge with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as part of his efforts to give Trump a diplomatic victory and make the summit go smoothly.
Spain said on Wednesday that it did not expect its stance to have any repercussions.
Rutte has kept the summit and its final statement short and focused on the spending pledge to try to avert any friction with Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had to settle for attending the pre-summit dinner on Tuesday evening rather than the main meeting on Wednesday, although he was set to meet Trump separately.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban diluted the display of unity when he told reporters that NATO had no business in Ukraine and that Russia was not strong enough to represent a real threat to NATO.
The Kremlin has accused NATO of being on a path of rampant militarisation and portraying Russia as a “fiend of hell” in order to justify its big increase in defence spending.
Trump says US with NATO ‘all the way’ as Summit begins
President Trump reassured NATO allies that he is “with them all the way,” having raised concerns that the alliance’s mutual defence pact was open to interpretation the day prior. He said there are “numerous definitions” of Article 5, but that “I’m committed to being their friends.”
The context: When asked about his commitment to NATO upon his arrival at the summit on Wednesday, Trump said “NATO is going to become very strong with us” and that “we’re with them all the way.”
While en route to The Hague on Tuesday, Trump had sparked alarm when he told reporters that NATO’s Article 5 clause, a central tenet of the alliance which refers to mutual defence, “depends on your definition.” He said there are “numerous definitions” of Article 5, but that “I’m committed to being their friends. I’m going to give you an exact definition when I get there.”
Trump’s comments on Wednesday alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte also focused on the alliance’s efforts to push European members to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP. The summit is expected to endorse the higher defence spending goal in response to Trump’s demands and European concerns that Russia poses a growing security threat.
With defence spending set to rise, Trump reassures NATO allies
NATO leaders are set to sign up on Wednesday to a big increase in defence spending at a short summit tailor-made for U.S. President Donald Trump. The summit is expected to endorse a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP – a response to a demand by Trump and to Europeans’ fears that Russia poses a growing threat to their security. Trump played down concerns over his commitment to mutual defence among allies as set out by Article 5 of NATO’s charter, saying: “We’re with them all the way” The new spending target – to be achieved over the next 10 years – is a jump worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year from the current goal of 2% of the GDP. The Kremlin has accused NATO of being on a path of rampant militarisation and portraying Russia as a “fiend of hell” in order to justify its big increase on defence spending.
Companies NATO to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP
Trump reassures allies on NATO mutual defence commitment
Spain disputes need to meet new spending target
Trump to meet Zelenskiy
THE HAGUE, June 25 (Reuters) – NATO leaders were set to sign up on Wednesday to a big increase in defence spending at a short summit tailor-made for U.S. President Donald Trump , who struck a reassuring tone on his commitment to protecting fellow members of the alliance.
The summit is expected to endorse a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP – a response to a demand by Trump and to Europeans’ fears that Russia poses a growing threat to their security following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine
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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte acknowledged that it was not easy for European countries and Canada to find the extra money but said it was vital to do so.
“There is absolute conviction with my colleagues at the table that, given this threat from the Russians, given the international security situation, there is no alternative,” he told reporters.
DEBATE OVER NATO MUTUAL DEFENCE PLEDGE
Speaking to media before the summit opened, Trump played down concerns over his commitment to mutual defence among allies as set out by Article 5 of NATO’s charter, saying: “We’re with them all the way.”
The debate has been fuelled by Trump’s own comments en route to the summit on Tuesday. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he had said there were “numerous definitions” of the clause.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb, whose country borders Russia and joined NATO two years ago, said the alliance was evolving.
“I think we’re witnessing the birth of a new NATO, which means a more balanced NATO and a NATO which has more European responsibility,” he told reporters.
SPENDING TO JUMP BY HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS
The new spending target – to be achieved over the next 10 years – is a jump worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year from the current goal of 2% of GDP, although it will be measured differently.
Countries would spend 3.5% of GDP on core defence – such as troops and weapons – and 1.5% on broader defence-related measures such as cyber security, protecting pipelines and adapting roads and bridges to handle heavy military vehicles.
All NATO members have backed a statement enshrining the target, although Spain declared it does not need to meet the goal and can meet its commitments by spending much less.
Rutte disputes that but accepted a diplomatic fudge with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez as part of his efforts to give Trump a diplomatic victory and make the summit go smoothly.
Spain said on Wednesday that it did not expect its stance to have any repercussions.
Graphic: A chart showing the NATO defense spending as a share of GDP in 2014 and estimates for 2024, according to 2021 prices.
TRUMP TO MEET ZELENSKIY
Rutte has kept the summit and its final statement short and focused on the spending pledge to try to avert any friction with Trump.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy had to settle for attending the pre-summit dinner on Tuesday evening rather than the main meeting on Wednesday, although he was set to meet Trump separately.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban diluted the display of unity when he told reporters that NATO had no business in Ukraine and that Russia was not strong enough to represent a real threat to NATO.
The Kremlin has accused NATO of being on a path of rampant militarisation and portraying Russia as a “fiend of hell” in order to justify its big increase in defence spending.
Graphic: Bar chart showing defense expenditures of NATO members, based on 2021 prices and exchange rates from 2014 to 2024.
Additional reporting by Lili Bayer, Anthony Deutsch, Bart Meijer, Stephanie van den Berg, John Irish, Gram Slattery and Charlotte Van Campenhout; Writing by Andrew Gray and Keith Weir; Editing by Kevin Liffey
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