Trump: United States Will Stand With Allies if Other NATO Members Share the Burden Fairly
The presidential candidate believes that NATO must treat the United States fairly and honestly.
In an interview given to Nigel Farage, the former leader of the UK Independence Party, on Tuesday, Donald Trump stated that if elected, the United States would stand "100 percent" with its NATO allies, provided that other member states also fairly contribute to sharing the burdens. Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, highlighted his views on the NATO alliance during the conversation.
Trump elaborated that without the United States, NATO would essentially be non-existent, pointing out that the military organization also benefits from America in terms of trade.
The Republican politician declared that while the United States should pay its fair share for NATO's operations, it should not be left to cover others' "fair share." He suggested that Washington had been bearing as much as 90 percent of the costs, a situation he deemed unfair.
Trump also pointed out that NATO is more important to other member countries than to the United States, because, as he put it, "we are separated by an ocean concerning certain problems."
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, reported in February that 18 of the then 31 (now 32) members of the military organization are on track to meet the alliance membership requirement to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense expenditures. Stoltenberg indicated that Germany is likely to reach the 2 percent mark this year for the first time in the history of its NATO membership and for the first time since World War II.
Recently, Poland proposed that the minimum threshold should be raised to 3 percent. This proposition was conveyed by Polish President Andrzej Duda to U.S. President Joe Biden during a visit to Washington in early March, justified by the need to increase defense spending due to the current security environment.
Trump elaborated that without the United States, NATO would essentially be non-existent, pointing out that the military organization also benefits from America in terms of trade.
The Republican politician declared that while the United States should pay its fair share for NATO's operations, it should not be left to cover others' "fair share." He suggested that Washington had been bearing as much as 90 percent of the costs, a situation he deemed unfair.
Trump also pointed out that NATO is more important to other member countries than to the United States, because, as he put it, "we are separated by an ocean concerning certain problems."
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, reported in February that 18 of the then 31 (now 32) members of the military organization are on track to meet the alliance membership requirement to spend 2 percent of GDP on defense expenditures. Stoltenberg indicated that Germany is likely to reach the 2 percent mark this year for the first time in the history of its NATO membership and for the first time since World War II.
Recently, Poland proposed that the minimum threshold should be raised to 3 percent. This proposition was conveyed by Polish President Andrzej Duda to U.S. President Joe Biden during a visit to Washington in early March, justified by the need to increase defense spending due to the current security environment.
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