What’s new
President Elect Donald Trumps foreign policy team told European officials that he will insist NATO allies are increasing defense spending to 5 percent of their economic output, according to a Friday report from Financial Times.
The talks between Trump’s top foreign policy aides and senior European officials reportedly took place this month Financial Times said, citing undisclosed sources said to be familiar with the talks.
The paper also reported that three other unnamed people familiar with discussions with Western officials said Trump reportedly plans to continue providing military aid to Ukraine.
Why it matters
NATO’s current target for members’ defense spending is 2 percent of their country’s GDP. Trump has repeatedly called on the alliance to increase this amount.
During his first administration, Trump said in 2018 that NATO’s defense spending target should be doubled to 4 percent. While on the campaign trail for the 2024 election, he also accused NATO of relying too much on American contributions.
Photo by Oleg Nikishin/Getty Images
Trump hints at possible NATO exit
He returned to the theme earlier this month during an appearance at NBCpp Meet the presswhen he suggested that the US might consider leaving NATO if members do not increase their defense spending.
During his campaign, Trump also talked about withdrawing aid to Ukraine while pushing for immediate peace talks in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
What to know
The reported discussions between the president-elect’s foreign policy team and European officials come as he tries to shape his policy on Europe as well as the policy on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Only 23 of NATO’s 32 members meet the current defense spending target of 2 percent.
The Financial Times further wrote that while Trump is expected to demand that NATO raise the target to 5 percent, one of its sources said they understood he would settle for 3.5 percent.
What people say
Last month NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said in comments made at the European Political Community Summit in Budapest that Trump was right to push the alliance to increase spending.
Rutte said at the summit: “He’s right about this. You’re not going to get there with the 2 percent.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told reporters on Thursday after speaking with Trump on the phone during a summit with EU editorial: Trump was “quite confident that the United States and Europe will continue their support for Ukraine.”
What happens next
Talk of NATO increasing its defense spending target is likely to continue in the coming weeks.
