Donald Trump Defense Spending: If Donald Trump wins reelection, The Telegraph believes that he is thinking about pressuring NATO countries to raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.
Given the challenges from China and Russia, the former president believes that member states ought to be required to contribute more to the alliance’s collective defence.
Furthermore, he feels that the accounting regulations ought to be amended to exclude military aid for Ukraine from the aim, which would cause some nations to fall below the present 2% GDP target.
According to a source close to Trump, he has been thinking about urging the alliance for a rise for some time, but after meeting with Polish President Andrzej Duda last month, he became even more persuaded.
“He is thinking about 3%, especially after talking to Duda, and that’s not including money for Ukraine,” the person said.
During their talks, Trump allegedly played a major role in convincing Duda to abandon his opposition to a long-delayed $60 billion aid plan for Kiev.
Several times, Trump has threatened to cut off US aid to NATO partners if they do not raise their defence spending.
Of the 32 alliance members, the UK included, only 11 achieved the present goal last year. The others were Poland, Greece, Estonia, Lithuania, Finland, Latvia, Hungary, Slovakia, and Denmark, with the US being by far the biggest total provider.
With a defence budget of barely 1% of GDP, Luxembourg was the least spending country; Belgium and Spain spent 1.2%.
According to Mr. Duda, “growing threats” like Russia starting a “confrontation with NATO” need for a level of 3%, which is only attained by Poland, the US, and Greece.
As per Telegraph, Senior EU defence official Timo Pesonen revealed on Tuesday that several member states were already debating a 3% target behind closed doors.
“Some people talk about 3% already when the NATO allies are raising their budget to at least 1% of GDP,” he remarked.
The UK intends to boost its defence spending to 2.32% of GDP in the fiscal year 2024–25 from 2.28% in 2023.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak declared last week that by the end of the decade, Britain’s spending would rise to 2.5% of GDP, or £75 billion more altogether.
Labour has declined to match the guarantee should it win a general election later this year.
The £2.3 billion that Britain spent on aid for Ukraine in 2022 and 2023 is allowed to be included in its defence contributions, along with funding for the intelligence services, under existing NATO regulations.
reassessment of the NATO expenditure target was cautiously supported by UK government sources on Thursday, but they recommended that it be raised to 2.5% of GDP and that spending on Ukraine be kept in check.
“There is a discussion to be had about the 2% target and whether it is at the right point, but the UK has been clear that 2.5% is the target we want other nations to get to,” a source said.
The defence of the UK and its allies depends heavily on Ukraine. We account for it in our defence spending for this reason.
Defence Minister Grant Shapps declared on Wednesday that to satisfy the needs of a “more dangerous world,” all Nato nations should strive to match the UK’s new funding threshold of 2.5%.
Concerned about Mr. Trump’s possible comeback to the White House, some NATO leaders have warned that he would jeopardize the alliance and undermine Ukraine’s war effort by withholding US military aid.
According to the rumoured Republican contender, he would “do whatever the hell they want” to friends who do not pay enough on their defence and would put an end to the conflict “in one day.”
South Korea Considers Joining AUKUS Defense Pact along US, UK and Australia
According to a source close to Mr. Trump, he had created a thorough strategy for a peaceful conclusion of the war, but it would not be made public until after the election.
The insider stated, “There is a plan, but he won’t debate it with cable news networks because then you lose all leverage.”
Rather, to win over US voters wishing for peace, they suggested he would concentrate on a straightforward message that he would end the conflict.
“He wants to put an end to the killing,” the person claimed. This bumper sticker says, “Trump will stop the killing.”
Mr. Trump told Time Magazine in an interview that was released on Tuesday that his message to Nato countries was, “If you’re not going to pay, then you’re on your own.”
“Taken advantage of us, both on NATO and on Ukraine,” declared Mr. Trump.
“If Europe is not going to pay, why should we pay?” he said. “Because they’re much more greatly affected. We have an ocean in between us [and Russia]. They don’t.”
“Europe has to get there also and do their job,” he said, “but I’m going to try and help Ukraine.”
A campaign spokesperson for Joe Biden claimed that Mr Trump was “threatening to abandon our allies if they are attacked and allow Putin to do whatever he wants, making Americans less safe”.
