Nato members increase defence spending by $100 billion after Donald Trump called them 'delinquents'

They were already increasing spending.

 

Stoltenberg was doing PR. You may as well take credit for what you were doing anyway.

 

Reckless, and against our interest.

 

Not everything is about hegemony.

 

The US spending 3.5% of its GDP on the military, and currently NATO is struggling to get their spending to 2%. I will only be happy if they spend as much as we are. I suggest we lower our military spending to 2% and only increase it to the level of the average current NATO spending.

 

also total bullshit.

at least get your facts staight.

 

NATO's European members are generally affluent, have fully developed infrastructures and comprehensive welfare state systems, but their military capabilities are inadequate for their own self-defense. For seven decades the US has subsidized their military spending needs and Trump wants to reduce that subsidy without impairing NATO's capabilities, he wants NATO members to more fully cover their defense needs.

We can differ in our perceptions over how much a nation should spend on its military, some oppose all military spending. Defense needs will depend on geography and the threat from neighbors, economic capacity is an important consideration, mutual defense agreements and alliances also play a role. Thanks to the NATO Treaty, its European members have no threats from neighbors, except for those which border Russia and its subordinate states. All NATO European members enjoy relative prosperity.

It has become evident Russia will use force to acquire subordinate states, so more recent NATO members which are close to Russia and once were Soviet 'satellites' naturally feel the need for better defense and have increased their spending, but these members are NATO's poorest and have the greatest need to invest in their infrastructure and social spending. Ideally the US would boost NATO defense in those countries at no cost, but Trump balks after seventy years of freeloading by the likes of France and Germany.

Compromise will be the answer, but the initial demand of just 2% of GDP is sensible, not outrageous or extreme. Only a few of NATO's members contribute that much for their defense, more should, after all they are closer to the threat.

 

Trump is so stupid he thinks a countries defense spending is a contribution to funding NATO.

 

I guess you missed the head of NATO speaking to our Congress giving Trump the credit for the other member countries finally stepping up to the plate and praising his leadership then.

Perhaps you should search it before you respond

Try "NATO head praises Trump before congress" and get back to me. Don't take my word for it.

 

Well we do it in steps and this is a BIG one so why not say "good job so far Mr. President keep it up, we stand behind you"?

 

I don't think Trump has done a good job. Trump has increased military spending and added to our debt problem when he should decrease it.

 

Well please enlighten me then

 

Putting everyone back to work as taxpayers, tax policy that favors growth, rising incomes and corporate earnings what better way to address deficits and debt. Spending cuts? He has instructed his cabinet to come up with substinative cuts in their budgets and we already see the push back from the Dems.

So what is the Dem plan?

 

Where do you think the armed forces and materials for NATO come from?

So did you miss the head of NATO speaking to our Congress giving Trump the credit for the other member countries finally stepping up to the plate and praising his leadership then. Or is he stupid too?

 

As the head of NATO he was taking the unprecedented step of addressing our Congress to report to them the success of our President.

 

I'll take the head of NATO's opinion over yours.

 

Sending as much as we do it idiotic, which is why no one else does it.

 

From the member nations.

No, he is smart enough to know how to play Trump (although you dont have to be too smart to do that).

 

Yeah, because they don't plan their budgets in advance, and stuff.

What a misguided bunch of crap, and a very weak attempt to give Bonespurs J. Bullshit credit for something that he didn't have anything to do with.

The member nations began increasing their "share" in 2014. Not right after an ignorant orange ****wit started blabbering to them.

 

Why is Stoltenberg doing PR for Trump?

He is giving credit to Trump not taking it for Europe.

 

And their defense budgets

He's smart enough to give credit where credit is due.

 

And you base that claim on what exactly?

 

Many NATO members were already increasing their defense budgets.

 

Common sense.

 

He said NATO members were already increasing their defense budgets.