Trump calls for 5% NATO defence spending, blames biden for conflict
Donald Trump, the newly elected president, suggested on Tuesday that NATO members allocate 5% of their GDP to defence-related issues. He also expressed optimism that the conflict in Ukraine could be concluded within six months and blamed Joe Biden's policy, which includes NATO's open approach to Ukraine, for Russian aggression.
Trump spoke about the war in Ukraine and the Alliance during a Tuesday press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Recounting a story from one of the NATO summits, when one of the leaders asked him whether America would protect "those not paying their bills," Trump noted that the required spending threshold was then 2% of GDP and should now be 5%. Pressed if he would push for defence spending to reach this level, Trump affirmed.
Trump wants to protect only those who spend
Trump argued that NATO member states should allocate 5% of their GDP to defence spending, stating that the current 2% benchmark is insufficient for practical self-defence. He suggested that countries with standard military capabilities should spend 4%. In comparison, those in high-risk areas should raise their contribution to 5%. He asserted that all member states have the financial capacity to meet these targets.
He suggested that the United States would not protect countries that do not meet these requirements because "that's how it works in life."
Accusations against Biden
During a Friday conference, Trump also suggested that Ukraine should never join the Alliance, expressing understanding of Russia's demands on this matter. He stated that Joe Biden decided to refuse to rule out future Ukrainian accession to NATO, which was the reason for Russian aggression.
Trump remarked that the position seemed firmly established, but Biden later suggested that Ukraine should have the opportunity to join NATO. He acknowledged Russia's perspective, given NATO's proximity to its borders. Trump also claimed that, as he understood it, a potential agreement had existed that could have met the needs of both Russia and Ukraine while preventing Russian aggression against Ukraine, but Biden's actions undermined this plan.
Trump said he would like to meet with Vladimir Putin as soon as possible and expressed frustration that he cannot do so before the beginning of his second presidency. He added that he hoped to end the war "long before the halfway point of the year," noting that both sides suffered significant losses.
