NATO members may increase spending, signaling to Trump – FT
According to a report by FT, NATO leaders are considering approving an increase in the target budget allocation for defense spending among member states. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
Sources have indicated to the newspaper that a proposed 50% increase in military budget allocations by 2030 may receive approval in June.
NATO member states are currently engaged in discussions about a significant boost in defense spending as part of a review of the alliance’s goals, as reported by the Financial Times on Thursday. This proposed increase is seen as a favorable response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous criticisms of the alliance members, according to an FT source.
NATO members are currently expected to invest at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense. Although this benchmark has often been overlooked, compliance has noticeably improved amid rising tensions with Russia.
According to NATO estimates released in June, only eight of its 32 members, including Canada, Italy, and Spain, are failing to meet their defense spending obligations. The U.S. is projected to allocate 3.38% of its GDP to defense this year, ranking just behind Poland and Estonia, while the median spending among member states stands at 2.11%.
During their annual summit in The Hague next June, NATO leaders might raise the short-term target to 2.5%, with a 3% goal set for 2030. This information was cited from four individuals familiar with the discussions. While confidential conversations on this matter began last week, there is a possibility they may not come to fruition.
The report suggests that the recent re-election of Donald Trump in November has intensified these discussions. A commitment to a minimum spend of 3% on military projects would be viewed as a “good signal to the US and Trump,” according to a German official quoted by the British newspaper.
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump criticized European NATO members for not contributing sufficiently to defense spending, labeling them as freeloaders. He has since claimed responsibility for urging allies to increase the military portions of their national budgets.
Remarks by Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto last week reflected the ongoing discussions among NATO countries. He told the news agency ANSA that Italy “will be forced to reach 2%, and maybe even 3%” and that Trump will “surely accelerate” the timing of this spending hike.
Moscow views NATO as a hostile entity, asserting that its expansion in Europe represents a significant national security threat to Russia. According to Russian officials, intentions to grant membership to Ukraine and an uptick in military aid to Kiev were fundamental factors that escalated the Ukraine conflict into a shooting war in 2022.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
NATO member states are currently engaged in discussions about a significant boost in defense spending as part of a review of the alliance’s goals, as reported by the Financial Times on Thursday. This proposed increase is seen as a favorable response to former U.S. President Donald Trump’s previous criticisms of the alliance members, according to an FT source.
NATO members are currently expected to invest at least 2% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense. Although this benchmark has often been overlooked, compliance has noticeably improved amid rising tensions with Russia.
According to NATO estimates released in June, only eight of its 32 members, including Canada, Italy, and Spain, are failing to meet their defense spending obligations. The U.S. is projected to allocate 3.38% of its GDP to defense this year, ranking just behind Poland and Estonia, while the median spending among member states stands at 2.11%.
During their annual summit in The Hague next June, NATO leaders might raise the short-term target to 2.5%, with a 3% goal set for 2030. This information was cited from four individuals familiar with the discussions. While confidential conversations on this matter began last week, there is a possibility they may not come to fruition.
The report suggests that the recent re-election of Donald Trump in November has intensified these discussions. A commitment to a minimum spend of 3% on military projects would be viewed as a “good signal to the US and Trump,” according to a German official quoted by the British newspaper.
During his first term from 2017 to 2021, Trump criticized European NATO members for not contributing sufficiently to defense spending, labeling them as freeloaders. He has since claimed responsibility for urging allies to increase the military portions of their national budgets.
Remarks by Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto last week reflected the ongoing discussions among NATO countries. He told the news agency ANSA that Italy “will be forced to reach 2%, and maybe even 3%” and that Trump will “surely accelerate” the timing of this spending hike.
Moscow views NATO as a hostile entity, asserting that its expansion in Europe represents a significant national security threat to Russia. According to Russian officials, intentions to grant membership to Ukraine and an uptick in military aid to Kiev were fundamental factors that escalated the Ukraine conflict into a shooting war in 2022.
Max Fischer for TROIB News
