Trump's Successful Strategy: Ablaze with Submission and Safeguard

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Trump Celebrates NATO Defense Boost, Amid Debate and Criticism

President Trump is cheering the boost in defense spending agreed upon at NATO, despite the 2035 deadline being longer than he and others had hoped for. The increased defense budget includes 3.5% on pure defense spending, along with an additional 1.5% on related areas like critical infrastructure, resilience, and the defense industrial base.

A Victory for the US?

Following the NATO summit in The Hague on June 25th, Trump sees this as his personal win, despite some pushback on the deadline. The American leader has also received a significant amount of attention from fellow leaders, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte drawing criticism for what some perceive as an obsequious display.

Some commentators believe this whole exercise was merely designed to inflate Trump's ego and bring the US back into the NATO fold. However, Latvia's President Edgars Rinkeivics, a strong advocate for increased defense spending, dismissed such speculations when asked about his feelings regarding the lavish praise directed at Trump. Rinkeivics argued that it's more humiliating for nations to let themselves down for years before suddenly waking up and demanding change, rather than being told to do so from the outside.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, meanwhile, insists that the latest developments within NATO are not motivated by an attempt to appease the US or its president. His sentiments are echoed by AMS.

Brushing aside accusations of favoring the US, Merz stated, "[We're] not doing this to do the USA and its president a favor. We are doing this out of our own perception and conviction...because we fear that Russia will take the war beyond Ukraine."

Criticism of NATO

João Oliveira, an MEP from the Left group of the European Parliament, strongly criticizes NATO for organizing an event that, in his opinion, benefits the US at the expense of the European nations. Oliveira believes the increased military spending being agreed upon at this NATO summit is aimed at supporting the US military-industrial complex and enriching large US corporations.

Oliveira also regrets that the funds allocated for defense could have been allocated to areas such as healthcare and education instead. However, Portuguese Prime Minister Luís Montenegro confirmed that Portugal would meet the 3.5% target without sacrificing other essential areas like financial stability and social support.

Flexibility Requests and Responses

Not all nations have agreed to the five-per-cent target. Spain was the only country to officially withhold commitment, despite signing the joint statement at the summit's conclusion. Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez appears to agree with the level of defense capability needed from Spain, but believes it is "realistic" for Spain to meet this at a rate of 2.1%, compatible with their social model and welfare state.

As a result, Spain seems to have secured a form of derogation, enabling it to chart its unique path towards meeting the capability target. Trump's reaction to Spain's stance? "I think it's terrible..." The US President went on to say that he would make Spain pay twice as much in future trade negotiations, asserting, "I'm not going to let that happen."

Belgium has also requested some flexibility, as achieving the 3.5% target is "out of our budgetary reach." The Belgian government is still struggling to work out how to finance the increase to 2% by the end of this year.

Other NATO allies have doubts about the new target, but none have yet formally requested flexibility like Spain. However, Belgium's Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot revealed that negotiations have been taking place behind closed doors to secure flexibility mechanisms that would ease the Belgian burden.

Romania and the Five-Per-Cent Target

President Nicusor Dan of Romania views the five-percent target as a feasible goal, although the question is more about timing than viability. Dan stated, "As you know, there were discussions on five per cent and 2035. Romania was ready to agree to 2032... Let's see how we balance the economy in the next year and a half, and then we can talk about targets."

Accounting Exercise or Credible Reinforcement?

Clyde Kull, a former Estonian ambassador to France, Germany, the EU, and NATO, believes the recent NATO summit has become more of an accounting exercise than a meaningful reinforcement of defense capabilities. Kull admits that the compromises reached by allies are aimed at demonstrating unity, but argues that converting defense capabilities takes time and cannot be achieved quickly.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, however, considers the compromise reached by the allies to be the spark for a "quantum leap" in the defense of the alliance. Rutte warned, though, that the work was only just beginning, and there was a need to rapidly expand defense industrial capacity on both sides of the Atlantic. The final declaration reiterates the allies' "unwavering commitment" to collective defense under Article 5, as well as their ongoing support for Ukraine and Ukraine's defense.

Enrichment Insights:
The increased defense spending agreed upon at NATO is intended to counter escalating security threats, particularly Russian aggression following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The rationale behind the increase involves both core military defense capabilities and investments in broader security infrastructure.
NATO member states plan to finance this spending boost through a combination of economic growth, budget adjustments, and potential reallocation of funds from other budget areas.
The commitment includes a review scheduled for 2029 to evaluate progress and adjust the spending trajectory as needed.
Spain has secured a form of derogation, allowing it to approach the capability target at a sustainable pace for its finances.
Other NATO allies have expressed doubts about the new target but haven't formally requested flexibility like Spain. Belgium, which also seeks flexibility, has been actively negotiating flexibility mechanisms behind closed doors to ease the Belgian burden.
President Trump's reaction to Spain's derogation is to threaten trade penalties against Spain, stating he would "make them pay twice as much."
Romania views the five-percent target as achievable, with the primary question being one of timing rather than feasibility.

The European Parliament's MEP, João Oliveira, has criticized NATO for organizing an event that he perceives as benefiting the US at the expense of European nations.
Oliveira also believes the increased military spending agreed upon at the NATO summit is aimed at supporting the US military-industrial complex and enriching large US corporations.
In contrast, the European Union (EU) and its leaders, such as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and AMS, are not motivated by a desire to appease the US or President Trump, but rather out of their own perception and conviction to counter Russian aggression.
Despite some countries like Spain requesting flexibility in meeting the defense spending target, Belgium is actively negotiating flexibility mechanisms behind closed doors to ease the Belgian burden, as achieving the target is "out of our budgetary reach."