A record 23 of NATO’s 32 member nations are hitting the Western military alliance’s defense spending target this year, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday, as Russia’s war in Ukraine has raised the threat of expanding conflict in Europe.
Trump doesn’t get enough credit for calling bullshit on NATO. In 2016, Trump made it clear that if member countries didn’t spend 2% of GDP for defense, the US may not be as supportive. The corporate media, progressives and anti-Trumpers cried about his incivility and lack of decorum.
In 2017, when Trump took office, only 4 countries were fully paid up. By the time he left office, twice as many countries were fully paid up. Then it dropped off. When Russia invaded Ukraine, more countries started paying their fair share.
From NATO
After the speech, Stoltenberg met at the White House with President Joe Biden. The U.S. president said the alliance has become “larger, stronger and more united than it’s ever been” during Stoltenberg’s tenure.
Biden did nothing to strengthen NATO, but at least he didn’t actually claim credit.
Some countries also are concerned about the possible reelection of former President Donald Trump, who has characterized many NATO allies as freeloading on U.S. military spending and said on the campaign trail that he would not defend NATO members that don’t meet defense spending targets.
“Shifting U.S. administrations have had the absolutely valid point to say that U.S. allies are spending too little,” Stoltenberg told reporters. “The good news is that’s changing.”
At least the head of NATO admits, rather obliquely, that Trump was right.
Take a look at the countries that are still freeloading.
Albania is all paid up, and that country is a shit hole. Most of the old Soviet block countries are paid up because they are close to Russia and didn’t enjoy their time in the USSR.
Portugal, Italy and Spain have had Fascist governments, and didn’t seem to mind too much. They don’t seem to care who is in charge, so they aren’t too concerned about Russia.
NATO headquarters are in Belgium, and is where Trump gave a speech clearly telling countries to pay up. How is Belgium not embarrassed for being a deadbeat?
Luxembourg is the richest country in the world. They figure Russia can’t reach them.
Canada continues to ride on our coat tails.
What’s the over/under on countries paid up at the end of Trump’s second term? I’m guessing he can get to 26 countries. Portugal, Spain and Italy are like young people who don’t like “adulting”. They aren’t going to go too far off the rails, but they aren’t in charge of anything either.