Trump wants NATO to increase defense spending target to 5%

(CLO) In a recent meeting with European officials, President-elect Donald Trump's foreign policy team announced that he would ask NATO member countries to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP.

The discussions come as Trump aides work to solidify his policy toward Europe and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which has included repeated demands that NATO members increase their defense spending from the current 2% of GDP to 5%.

Only 23 of the 32 members of the alliance have reached the 2% level. According to some sources, he is willing to accept 3.5% in the upcoming negotiations.

Trump and Zelenskyy met in Paris this month. Photo: Ukraine Presidency

Mr Trump has criticised NATO in the past for its reliance on US financial contributions and threatened to leave the alliance if allies do not increase their defence spending. Meanwhile, NATO countries are concerned about their ability to maintain support from Washington, especially in the context of the conflict in Ukraine.

However, through negotiations with Western officials, Mr. Trump has pledged to maintain military aid to Ukraine to ensure stability in the region, despite his campaign statements.

Talks on increasing defence spending in NATO are expected to continue, with some sources saying they could reach a 3% spending target at the NATO summit in the Netherlands in June. This reflects a shift in NATO’s stance, with many members concerned about the difficult financial decisions needed to reach the target.

Meanwhile, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European leaders, such as German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have expressed confidence that the US and NATO allies will continue to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.

Although Mr. Trump disagrees with Ukraine joining NATO, he still believes that providing weapons to Kiev will help promote a peaceful outcome through military force.

Ngoc Anh (according to Newsweek, FT)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/ong-trump-muon-nato-tang-manh-chi-tieu-quoc-phong-len-5-post326804.html