Ukraine War Live Ticker +++ 23:56 Trump: New NATO spending target should not apply to US (but won't admit it)
U.S. Exemption from Enhanced Defense Spending Push by NATO, According to Trump
FacebookTwitterWhatsappE-MailPrintCopy Link Trump is dancing around the issue, wanting the new NATO target for military spending not to apply to the US. He tells a journalist if he expects members' spending to reach 5% of GDP in the future, "I think they should do that. I don't think we should. But I think they should." He claims that Washington has supported NATO for a long time, but we've been carrying almost 100% of the costs1.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy calls out Putin for lacking a desire for peace. Putin's appearance at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum is met with new threats from Russia, and Zelenskyy doesn't mince words – Russia wants war2.
Trump's love-hate relationship with NATO is nothing new. As a presidential candidate, he criticized the alliance, saying it was obsolete and that the US was being taken advantage of by its European partners3. However, as President, he's now touting NATO spending as a significant achievement4.
Paragraphs adjusted for clarity and flow, sentences structure reorganized for improved readability.
Enrichment Data
EU's Spending Target:
The EU has set a target of 2% of GDP for defense spending by member states. The new NATO target is more ambitious, calling for members to reach 5% of GDP by 2035.
Noteworthy Quote:
Donald Trump: "I don't think we should [meet the new NATO spending target]. But I think they should."
Overall:
Trump has a history of criticizing NATO and pushing for allies to increase their defense spending. Currently, he is not openly admitting that the US should meet the new NATO spending target, but his actions and statements suggest that this may still be his position.
Sources
- Trump: Voters Didn't Elect Me to Invest in NATO
- Zelensky Accuses Putin of Wanting War as Russia Threatens Ukraine Again
- Why Donald Trump Makes Russia's Vladimir Putin Look Like an Election expert
- Trump Says He's Leaving G7 Summit Early Because He's Had a Great Victory
The Community policy regarding Trump's stance on NATO's military spending reveals a complex relationship, as Trump has been generally advocating for allies to increase their defense spending, but not openly admitting the US should meet the new NATO target. This stance, however, aligns with Trump's previous criticism of NATO in political debates. Meanwhile, the general-news highlights Zelenskyy's assertion that Putin's actions indicate a desire for war, contrasting Putin's stated pursuit of peace.
