a425couple
2024-03-08 17:18:53 UTC
from
https://www.newsweek.com/nato-map-gdp-defense-spending-1869068
(Some of each side. Trump's rough talk did indeed force some
countries to up their game and increase their laggard spending.)
NATO Map Shows GDP Defense Spending by Country
Published Feb 12, 2024 at 8:03 AM EST
Updated Feb 13, 2024 at 3:38 AM EST
00:55
NATO Map Shows GDP Defense Spending by Country
By David Brennan
Diplomatic Correspondent
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Former President Donald Trump's latest salvo against the NATO alliance
has again thrown the transatlantic community into uncertainty, as
leaders consider how to handle another divisive American presidential
election campaign.
Speaking at a South Carolina campaign rally on Saturday, Trump, who
throughout his first term lambasted NATO allies for failing to meet
alliance spending targets, told attendees about a past conversation with
an unnamed leader of a "big country" within the bloc.
The leader, Trump said, asked whether the United States would honor its
NATO Article 5 collective defense obligations in the event of an outside
attack, even if allies were not meeting the agreed spending targets. He
said: "I said: 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?'...'No I would not
protect you, in fact I would encourage them to do whatever they want.
You gotta pay.'"
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg—who during Trump's presidency
sought to blunt White House criticism by crediting the president with
increased allied military expenditure—warned that the remarks "put
American and European soldiers at increased risk."
Flourish logoA Flourish map
President Joe Biden, meanwhile, described Trump's latest criticism of
the alliance as "appalling and dangerous."
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But for all the outrage, the divisive former president has some grounds
for criticism. The majority of NATO nations—19, by the alliance's own
count in July 2023—are still failing to spend 2 percent of GDP on their
militaries, despite having agreed the target at the 2014 Wales summit.
Those having so far reached and surpassed the target are Poland (3.9
percent), the U.S. (3.49 percent), Greece (3.01 percent), Estonia (2.73
percent), Lithuania (2.54 percent), Finland (2.45 percent), Romania
(2.44 percent), Hungary (2.43 percent), Latvia (2.27 percent), the
United Kingdom (2.07 percent), and Slovakia (2.03 percent).
As of July 2023, those still falling below target were France (1.9
percent), Montenegro (1.87 percent), North Macedonia (1.87 percent),
Bulgaria (1.84 percent), Croatia (1.79 percent), Albania (1.76 percent),
the Netherlands (1.7 percent), Norway (1.67 percent), Denmark (1.65
percent), Germany (1.57 percent), the Czech Republic (1.5 percent),
Portugal (1.48 percent), Italy (1.46 percent), Canada (1.38 percent),
Slovenia (1.35 percent), Turkey (1.31 percent), Spain (1.26 percent),
and Belgium (1.26 percent).
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Luxembourg is the lowest spender, at 0.72 percent of GDP, though given
its uniquely small size has its own goal of spending 2 percent of gross
national income on its military. Iceland does not have its own military,
so is not included in the figures.
If allied pledges made to Newsweek last month are fulfilled—and if
Sweden finally becomes the thirty-second alliance member—during the
course of 2024, half of NATO's members will reach the 2 percent mark
before the beginning of the next U.S. president's term. Trump is
currently the frontrunner in the Republican primary race and could face
off against Biden in November.
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But with so many still missing "the mother of all targets," as Fabrice
Pothier—a former director of policy planning for NATO who worked on the
Wales pledge—described the goal, decades of U.S. frustration with its
allies are unlikely to ease.
"Two percent is basically about convincing the United States," Pothier
told Newsweek.
NATO allies do appear to be moving in the right direction, despite the
continued struggle to hit 2 percent. Military spending has increased
significantly in recent years, and Russia's full-scale invasion of
Ukraine is prompting new investments in the bloc's military industrial
base and a hardening of its posture on Russian frontiers.
Last year, NATO nations also achieved the collective goal of dedicating
20 percent of all annual defense expenditure to major new equipment and
related research and development.
NATO Map GDP Defense-Spending By Country
PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY NEWSWEEK/GETTY
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https://www.newsweek.com/nato-map-gdp-defense-spending-1869068
(Some of each side. Trump's rough talk did indeed force some
countries to up their game and increase their laggard spending.)
NATO Map Shows GDP Defense Spending by Country
Published Feb 12, 2024 at 8:03 AM EST
Updated Feb 13, 2024 at 3:38 AM EST
00:55
NATO Map Shows GDP Defense Spending by Country
By David Brennan
Diplomatic Correspondent
FOLLOW
884
New Fairness Meter!
Hold us accountable by rating this article's fairness
Former President Donald Trump's latest salvo against the NATO alliance
has again thrown the transatlantic community into uncertainty, as
leaders consider how to handle another divisive American presidential
election campaign.
Speaking at a South Carolina campaign rally on Saturday, Trump, who
throughout his first term lambasted NATO allies for failing to meet
alliance spending targets, told attendees about a past conversation with
an unnamed leader of a "big country" within the bloc.
The leader, Trump said, asked whether the United States would honor its
NATO Article 5 collective defense obligations in the event of an outside
attack, even if allies were not meeting the agreed spending targets. He
said: "I said: 'You didn't pay? You're delinquent?'...'No I would not
protect you, in fact I would encourage them to do whatever they want.
You gotta pay.'"
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg—who during Trump's presidency
sought to blunt White House criticism by crediting the president with
increased allied military expenditure—warned that the remarks "put
American and European soldiers at increased risk."
Flourish logoA Flourish map
President Joe Biden, meanwhile, described Trump's latest criticism of
the alliance as "appalling and dangerous."
Sign up for Newsletter
NEWSLETTER
The Frontlines
In-depth coverage of The New World Order
Email address
By clicking on SIGN ME UP, you agree to Newsweek's Terms of Use &
Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
But for all the outrage, the divisive former president has some grounds
for criticism. The majority of NATO nations—19, by the alliance's own
count in July 2023—are still failing to spend 2 percent of GDP on their
militaries, despite having agreed the target at the 2014 Wales summit.
Those having so far reached and surpassed the target are Poland (3.9
percent), the U.S. (3.49 percent), Greece (3.01 percent), Estonia (2.73
percent), Lithuania (2.54 percent), Finland (2.45 percent), Romania
(2.44 percent), Hungary (2.43 percent), Latvia (2.27 percent), the
United Kingdom (2.07 percent), and Slovakia (2.03 percent).
As of July 2023, those still falling below target were France (1.9
percent), Montenegro (1.87 percent), North Macedonia (1.87 percent),
Bulgaria (1.84 percent), Croatia (1.79 percent), Albania (1.76 percent),
the Netherlands (1.7 percent), Norway (1.67 percent), Denmark (1.65
percent), Germany (1.57 percent), the Czech Republic (1.5 percent),
Portugal (1.48 percent), Italy (1.46 percent), Canada (1.38 percent),
Slovenia (1.35 percent), Turkey (1.31 percent), Spain (1.26 percent),
and Belgium (1.26 percent).
READ MORE NATO
Mystery GPS Jamming on NATO Borders Fomenting 'Atmosphere of Threat'
Italy Deals Air-Defense Blow to NATO Ally's Pro-Putin Leader
Ukraine's 'Massive' Ammo Deficit Greatest Danger to NATO Security:
DOWNLOAD DESCRIPTION
00:00 / 40:25
Privacy Policy
Luxembourg is the lowest spender, at 0.72 percent of GDP, though given
its uniquely small size has its own goal of spending 2 percent of gross
national income on its military. Iceland does not have its own military,
so is not included in the figures.
If allied pledges made to Newsweek last month are fulfilled—and if
Sweden finally becomes the thirty-second alliance member—during the
course of 2024, half of NATO's members will reach the 2 percent mark
before the beginning of the next U.S. president's term. Trump is
currently the frontrunner in the Republican primary race and could face
off against Biden in November.
China eyes Russia's Far East as Putin's 'History Lesson' backfires
READ MORE
China eyes Russia's Far East as Putin's 'History Lesson' backfires
But with so many still missing "the mother of all targets," as Fabrice
Pothier—a former director of policy planning for NATO who worked on the
Wales pledge—described the goal, decades of U.S. frustration with its
allies are unlikely to ease.
"Two percent is basically about convincing the United States," Pothier
told Newsweek.
NATO allies do appear to be moving in the right direction, despite the
continued struggle to hit 2 percent. Military spending has increased
significantly in recent years, and Russia's full-scale invasion of
Ukraine is prompting new investments in the bloc's military industrial
base and a hardening of its posture on Russian frontiers.
Last year, NATO nations also achieved the collective goal of dedicating
20 percent of all annual defense expenditure to major new equipment and
related research and development.
NATO Map GDP Defense-Spending By Country
PHOTO-ILLUSTRATION BY NEWSWEEK/GETTY
Fairness Meter
Newsweek is committed to journalism that's factual and fair.
Hold us accountable and submit your rating of this article on the meter.
Click On Meter