The remarks could trigger alarm bells in capitals from Europe to Asia, where leaders were already worried about a withdrawal of US security support

US President Donald Trump has cast doubt on his willingness to defend Washington’s Nato allies, saying that he would not do so if they are not paying enough for their own defense.

“It’s common sense, right,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office. “If they don’t pay, I’m not going to defend them. No, I’m not going to defend them.”

Trump said he had been of this view for years and shared it with Nato allies during his 2017-2021 presidential term. Those efforts prompted more spending from other members of the 75-year-old transatlantic alliance, he said, but that “even now, it’s not enough.”

He added: “They should be paying more.”

  • Korhaka@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    91·
    26 days ago

    So you want countries to bankrupt themselves? A small country just isn’t capable of buying or building 200 tanks unless you want them welding sheet metal to tractors and calling it a tank.

    GDP percentage may not be perfect but it seems pretty reasonable that 5M people shouldn’t have to contribute as much between them as 300M people.

      • Korhaka@sopuli.xyzEnglish
        61·
        26 days ago

        I expect countries to spend a reasonable amount of resources to raise an adequate army according to their abilities.

        So a percentage of their GDP?