NATO members reluctant to endorse Trump’s defence spending proposal
(Source – The Hindu, International Edition – Page No. – 13)
| Topic: GS2 – International Relations |
| Context |
| ● Donald Trump proposes a significant increase in NATO members’ defence spending to 5% of GDP, sparking debates about feasibility amid security concerns, particularly over Russia’s actions. |
Proposal for NATO Defence Spending Increase:
Trump’s Proposal:
- S. President-elect Donald Trump proposed that NATO countries should raise their defense spending to 5% of their GDP.
- This would be a significant increase from the current target of 2%, which no NATO member, including the United States, currently meets.
Political and Economic Challenges:
- NATO officials acknowledged the need for increased defense spending, but expressed that the 5% target would be politically and economically unfeasible for most members.
- Reaching such a target would require hundreds of billions of dollars in additional funding, which is deemed unrealistic for many nations.
Expected Outcome:
- A new defense spending target is expected to be set at the NATO summit in The Hague in June.
- The new target is likely to be around 3% of GDP.
- Even this figure presents challenges for several NATO members, with some struggling to meet the existing 2% target.
Rationale for Increased Spending:
- The push for higher defense spending is in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and broader security concerns.
- There is also an increasing push to reduce reliance on the United States for NATO’s defense capabilities.
European Concerns:
- While European countries agree on the need for increased defense spending, they are also advocating for more self-reliance in defense matters.
- Proposals include joint EU borrowing to fund military capabilities, aiming to strengthen Europe’s defense capacity independently.
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