“They will all afford it, however they need to be at 5 per cent, not two per cent,” the incoming US president instructed reporters.
“Europe is in for a tiny fraction of the cash that we’re in,” Trump mentioned. “We’ve a factor referred to as the ocean in between us, proper? Why are we in for billions and billions of {dollars} more cash than Europe?”
Trump has lengthy been sceptical of NATO, the cornerstone of safety in Europe since World Struggle II, and final month reiterated a well-known risk to depart the alliance if its members didn’t step up spending.
The transatlantic alliance’s 32 international locations in 2023 set a minimal stage for defence spending of two per cent of gross home product, and Russia’s conflict in Ukraine has jolted NATO to strengthen its japanese flank and ramp up spending.
Trump shouldn’t be the one high official to name for a rise – NATO chief Mark Rutte likewise mentioned final month that “we’re going to want much more than two per cent”.
Rutte additionally warned that European nations weren’t ready for the specter of future conflict with Russia, calling on them to “turbocharge” their defence spending.
