US President Donald Trump declared the main diplomatic victory on Wednesday (June 25) because NATO leaders agreed to a dramatic increase in their defense expenditure and committed to investing 5% of GDP a year in basic and wider security needs by 2035.
Trump spoke at the final conference at the NATO summit in The Hague and appreciated the new defensive goal of the alliance and called him a historical milestone.
“This week, NATO’s allies committed themselves dramatically increase defense spending to 5% of GDP – something no one really considered possible,” he said.
He announced that the agreement would be officially named the “Hague Defense” commitment and offered it as a global success.
“It is a monumental victory for the United States because we wore much more than our fair share,” Trump said. “But this is a big victory for Europe and for a truly Western civilization.”
More than $ 1 trillion for collective defense
Trump said that an increase in expenditures – except in Spain – will eventually add more than $ 1 trillion a year a year.
“Europe that will perform to take more responsibility for security will help prevent future disasters such as a terrible situation with Russia and Ukraine,” he added.
The new expenditure target includes 3.5% of GDP for traditional defense, such as soldiers and weapons, and 1.5% for wider security needs, including cyber security and infrastructure protection.
From skeptic to supporter
Trump
“I came here because it was something I was supposed to do,” he said. “But I left here a little differently.”
Described NATO leader as “a nice group of people” and claimed that “Almost everyone said,” Thank you to God for the United States. “
Praise for allies – and warning
Trump appreciated most of NATO countries for supporting increases, but chose Spain as a lonely possession. While Spain claims that it can fulfill its defense obligations with lower expenditure, Trump suggested that the rest of the alliance is united in its determination.
“They need the United States and it won’t be the same without the United States,” he warned.
NATO statement: “IronClad’s commitment”
The 32 -member alliance formally approved the collateral in its final summit:
“The Allies committed to investing 5% of GDP annually on basic defense requirements and by 2035 related to facial and safety expense to ensure our individual and collective obligations.”
The statement also reaffirmed the alliance’s obligation for the basic article 5: “Attacking one is an attack on all.”
Trump kills the Spanish expenditure of NATO, threatens business action
Trump took a sharper focus on Spain, the only NATO country that did not apply for the new alliance’s commitment to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP by 2035.
“They want a little free rides, but they will have to pay us back for the store,” Trump said.
Then he hoverled the idea of introducing higher tariffs into Spain, despite his position in the European Union, which collectively negotiates business policy for all 27 Member States.
When Trump reminded it, he doubled, “I will negotiate directly with Spain. I’ll do it myself,” insisted.
Spain: 2% is “sufficiently and realistic”
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stood firmly and said Spain would increase its defense spending to only 2% of GDP – not 5%. He stressed that Spain remains committed to NATO collective security, especially on its southern and eastern borders.
“Spain will meet the goals of NATO members agreed on Wednesday’s summit,” Sánchez said.
“Our plan to spend 2% of GDP for defense is sufficient and realistic.”
Two days before the Sanchez summit, he has already announced the Spanish outage, which is a step that risked undermining the Unity of NATO just before Trump’s arrival.
Despite disagreement, Sánchez framed the summit as a victory for both parties: “At today’s NATO victory summit, Spain wins something very important for our society, which is the security and state of social status.”
Trump on the label “Daddy”, says Rutte “I like”
Trump, who packed his press conference, raised a playful question referred to the previous commentary of NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and called Trump the “dad” alliance.
Asked if he considered NATO’s allies to be his children, Trump laughed, but diverted.
“No, he likes me. I think he likes me,” Trump said with reference to Rutte.
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