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demmiblue

(36,744 posts)
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:15 PM Jul 2018

Trump suggests NATO allies raise target spending to 4 percent

Source: The Hill

President Trump suggested Wednesday that NATO allies should increase their defense spending from 2 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) to 4 percent.

"During the President’s remarks today at the NATO summit he suggested that countries not only meet their commitment of 2% of their GDP on defense spending, but that they increase it to 4%. The President raised this same issue when he was at NATO last year," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement.

"President Trump wants to see our allies share more of the burden and at a very minimum meet their already stated obligations," she added. Bulgarian President Rumen Radev first told a national radio station that Trump had raised the prospect of a heightened spending commitment during a meeting with world leaders at the NATO summit.

“NATO is not a [market] at which one can buy security. But yes, on the other hand, President Trump is right, as each country should build its effective capabilities, and the unwillingness with which Bulgaria spends money on defense is obvious,” Radev said, according to Bloomberg.

Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/396485-trump-suggests-nato-allies-raise-target-spending-level



AP Live coverage:

[div class"excerpt"]6 p.m.

President Donald Trump has suggested that NATO allies commit to spending 4 percent of their GDP on defense, up from the current goal of 2 percent by 2024.

White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirms Trump raised the idea at a closed-door meeting with fellow NATO leaders Wednesday in Brussels.

It's unclear by what date he'd like to see the increase.

Trump has been pressing member countries to spend more on defense, accusing them of freeloading off the U.S.

https://www.apnews.com/5d9af207650e42cd9fbf96ce7d8c59d1/The-Latest:-Trump-suggests-NATO-allies-spend-more-on-defense?utm_campaignSocialFlow&utm_mediumAP&utm_sourceTwitter&__twitter_impressiontrue


24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Trump suggests NATO allies raise target spending to 4 percent (Original Post) demmiblue Jul 2018 OP
If this is true, Trump is out of his mind (NT) louis c Jul 2018 #1
+ 100 n/t MBS Jul 2018 #3
Doesn't really matter if this is true or not (it probably is). lark Jul 2018 #5
Hmmm JustAnotherGen Jul 2018 #2
Wouldn't it be easier if Vlad made these announcements instead of Trump? Botany Jul 2018 #4
I don't disagree at all JustAnotherGen Jul 2018 #11
Russia/Soviet Union has been and still is working to split the US from NATO for 40+ years Botany Jul 2018 #13
Yeah - I know JustAnotherGen Jul 2018 #16
One of their leaders should stand up a speak the truth .... Botany Jul 2018 #17
I think he is just trying to alienate them PatSeg Jul 2018 #6
Yep... it is a total troll move. n/t demmiblue Jul 2018 #12
He was just randomly picking a number that PatSeg Jul 2018 #15
Its just blowing off... Maxheader Jul 2018 #7
I have another option exboyfil Jul 2018 #8
Now, here comes Russia's biggest challenge: How can they spin this? DetlefK Jul 2018 #9
Report: Trudeau Defies Trump at NATO Meeting, Cuts Military Spending progree Jul 2018 #10
Post title is FALSE. Canada will increase military spending 70% after one year drop (not "cut"). Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2018 #19
This article is incorrect louis c Jul 2018 #14
Yup. TheHill.com is rife with sloppy reporting, writing, editing, and proofreading. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2018 #20
Ironically enough, ellipses do not contain spaces. LanternWaste Jul 2018 #21
Duh, they are not ellipses. In your rush to find fault you miss that obvious aspect Bernardo de La Paz Jul 2018 #22
Thank you for pointing that out. demmiblue Jul 2018 #24
Is this a "shakedown" Proud Liberal Dem Jul 2018 #18
Meanwhile, both houses of Congress defending NATO Snellius Jul 2018 #23

lark

(23,003 posts)
5. Doesn't really matter if this is true or not (it probably is).
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:21 PM
Jul 2018

drumpf is 100& batshit & awful and has no mind except for figuring out how to hurt brown/black and all working class people, get his lies believed, profit for himself and do Putin's bidding so Putin lets him keep the extravagant Rosneft $$ and doesn't release the miles of tape he has proving drumpf is a total traitor and Russian rusty tool.

JustAnotherGen

(31,681 posts)
2. Hmmm
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:20 PM
Jul 2018

I think Merkel needs to get with Macron - one tap his shoulder and clearly state: It's us against you now.

I'm done with 45 bullying our allies. They need to forcefully stand up for their countries, their beliefs, their citizens.

45 is threatening the people of these countries - All of them.

Botany

(70,291 posts)
13. Russia/Soviet Union has been and still is working to split the US from NATO for 40+ years
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:30 PM
Jul 2018

The "they are not paying enough" meme is not a new one,

JustAnotherGen

(31,681 posts)
16. Yeah - I know
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:32 PM
Jul 2018

The EU may be the last stronghold though. The best thing for their people right now just might be a total break in conversation with 45. Let him finish up this trip- then freeze him out until the end of his Presidency.

Point blank - 45 can't be trusted. And they shouldn't trust 45 or any members of the GOP as they give 45 cover.

PatSeg

(46,794 posts)
15. He was just randomly picking a number that
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:32 PM
Jul 2018

he found outrageous enough to piss people off or Putin told him to say 4%.

Maxheader

(4,366 posts)
7. Its just blowing off...
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:21 PM
Jul 2018

Like that remark about germany being protected from russia
by americu and they owe us..

Showing off for the hillbillys back home..And I am reading that
now from some sites..."Trump giving the euros hell!!"

exboyfil

(17,857 posts)
8. I have another option
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:23 PM
Jul 2018

Why don't we spend 2% on our defense and redefine the roll of our DoD to protecting just our hemisphere.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
9. Now, here comes Russia's biggest challenge: How can they spin this?
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:23 PM
Jul 2018

How can they spin this into making Trump look like a peaceful diplomat and the US like a war-hungry empire?

progree

(10,864 posts)
10. Report: Trudeau Defies Trump at NATO Meeting, Cuts Military Spending
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:24 PM
Jul 2018

Last edited Wed Jul 11, 2018, 02:57 PM - Edit history (2)

This is in LBN posted 1047a ET and and says "1 hour ago". Probably most everyone reading this has seen it already, but just in case ...
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142106244

which excerpts from: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/report-trudeau-defies-trump-at-nato-meeting-cuts-military-spending/ar-AAzV0Zn?ocid=spartanntp

New figures show that Canadian military spending will be cut significantly, even as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to face U.S. President Donald Trump’s demands for higher NATO military spending at the alliance's summit in Brussels.

According to the CBC, Canada will spend around 1.23 percent of its GDP on defense in 2018, down from 1.36 percent last year. This is far below the 2 percent target set for NATO members, which has been a particular bugbear for the American president.

Canadian National Defence spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said the drop in investment was largely down to one-off payments. One was a retroactive pay increase for service members and the other was a $1.3 billion payment into the fund that pays out servicemember pensions.


On Edit: See #19 by Bernardo de La Paz just below:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2106415

quoting from From https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/whats-happening-to-canadas-defence-spending-harjit-sajjan-responds/

As clearly indicated in Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada will increase annual defence spending to $32.7 billion over the next ten years—an increase of over 70 percent


Bernardo de La Paz

(48,788 posts)
19. Post title is FALSE. Canada will increase military spending 70% after one year drop (not "cut").
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:55 PM
Jul 2018

From https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142106244

Canadian National Defence spokesman Daniel Le Bouthillier said the drop in investment was largely down to one-off payments. One was a retroactive pay increase for service members and the other was a $1.3 billion payment into the fund that pays out servicemember pensions.


From https://www.macleans.ca/opinion/whats-happening-to-canadas-defence-spending-harjit-sajjan-responds/

The 2017 Fall Economic Statement identified the fiscal impact of our policy. Over the next six years, National Defence will receive $6.5 billion in new cash funding, and $62.3 billion over the next 20 years. As clearly indicated in Strong, Secure, Engaged, Canada will increase annual defence spending to $32.7 billion over the next ten years—an increase of over 70 percent. New investments in major equipment will account for over 32 per cent of overall defence spending by 2024-25.


Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan answers a question during Question Period in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Thursday, June 9, 2016. (Adrian Wyld/CP)


 

louis c

(8,652 posts)
14. This article is incorrect
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 12:30 PM
Jul 2018

Last edited Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:59 PM - Edit history (1)

The NATO agreement states that each country spend 2% of it's GDP on defense. That is not a contribution to NATO, or even Europe, but the entire defense budget.

Our 3.5% includes all of our spending in Asia, the Middle East and other areas of the world.

If I was in charge of a European country, I'd just increase the salaries of all the military personnel to reach the 2% goal. This way, the money would most likely be spent "in country" as a sort of economic stimulus. Also, you could add personnel to improve your unemployment rate.

Bernardo de La Paz

(48,788 posts)
22. Duh, they are not ellipses. In your rush to find fault you miss that obvious aspect
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:04 PM
Jul 2018

I purposely space out the dots between the title and the "nt" to make it clear that it is just separation and NOT suggesting continuation; not performing the function of ellipses which is to suggest continuation. Ellipses do not have spaces; the three or four dots they employ are tightly grouped.

But, of course, you have never made a positive comment about one of my posts. It's an unfortunate pattern others have noticed too.

demmiblue

(36,744 posts)
24. Thank you for pointing that out.
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:51 PM
Jul 2018

I went back to see if they made a correction (they did) in order to see if I should self-delete.

Snellius

(6,881 posts)
23. Meanwhile, both houses of Congress defending NATO
Wed Jul 11, 2018, 01:19 PM
Jul 2018

Senate passed a 97-2 vote yesterday. House to pass another today, probably with as large a majority. Nonbinding, of course, but still interesting for Congress to be openly defying the foreign policy of the Commander in Chief right in the midst of summit negotiations abroad.

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