NATO announces record military spending in 2024 after Trump threats

The secretary general of NATO, Jens Stoltenbergannounced this Wednesday a strong increase in military spending by alliance members, following threats of donald trump to countries with outstanding contributions.

“This year, I expect 18 allies to spend 2% of GDP on defense. This is another number record and it is six times more than in 2014, when only three allies met the objective”he said.

READ TOO: Head of the Ukrainian Army says they are on the defensive and calls for “improving tactics”

Stoltenberg’s announcement about the number of countries in the NATO that would reach the target in military spending is a response to Donald Trump’s threat trump not defending defaulting countries if the president is re-elected.

Last weekend, during a campaign rally, the former US president, once again running for the White House, also suggested that he will encourage Russia to “do whatever it wants” with them.

According to Stoltenberg, “we are making real progress” because the alliance countries “are spending more. However, some countries still have a long way to go.”

The list of 18 countries that would meet the military spending target this year has not been released. In 2023, 11 countries reached the target.

In 2023, countries in the NATO They decided to make 2% a minimum floor and not a maximum target.

The statements of trump They generated a real commotion at a global level and important leaders publicly criticized this position.

The head of the German government, Olaf Scholzsaid that questioning a fundamental pillar of NATO as a principle of mutual defense, it is “irresponsible and dangerous”.

During his term as president, trump He openly criticized the allies of the NATO for resisting the increase spent in Defense matters.

In the context of the war in Ukraine, several countries in the bloc have increased their military investments, but the United States still bears most of the spent defense combination.

TO KNOW MORE: One dead in Israel due to rockets fired from Lebanon, as the Israeli army attacks in response

Ukraine on the agenda

In addition to threats to defaulting countries, what worried the allies most was the suggestion that, from the White House, trump It would allow Russia to do “whatever it wants” with debtor countries.

In an unusually harsh message on the X network, Stoltenberg said the suggestion that E.U. NATO Not standing up for each other “undermines the security” of everyone, including that of the United States.

The controversy highlights the dependence of NATO of US military spending and suggests discussion on whether European countries (29 of the 31 members of the alliance military) actually has an alternative.

France – the only remaining nuclear power in the EU – has argued for years that Europe needs another “insurance policy” in addition to the NATOto ensure the security of the continent.

Stoltenberg will lead a meeting of defense ministers from the alliance countries on Thursday military. Formally, the agenda of the ministerial meeting is focused on the continuity and modality of support for the Ukraine.

The United States ambassador to NATOJulianne Smith noted on Tuesday that Europe has surpassed the United States in supporting Ukraine.

In Stoltenberg’s opinion, Ukrainian forces have demonstrated capacity for action with recent successes in the Black Sea, where Kiev claims to have “destroyed” a Russian warship south of the Crimean peninsula.

Ukrainian forces “managed to inflict heavy losses on the Russian Black Sea Fleet,” Stoltenberg said, adding that this is “a great achievement, a great victory for the Ukrainians.”

Source: Elcomercio

jack

I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.