Trump's call for 5% NATO spending sparks European backlash
Donald Trump, President-elect of the USA, would like NATO countries to allocate 5% of GDP to defence spending. The Spanish newspaper "La Vanguardia" calls this an "imperial tax" and claims that such a move is aimed at increasing the sales of American weaponry. European politicians have also responded to the proposal.
Before assuming office, Donald Trump suggested that NATO member states allocate 5% of their GDP to defence spending. He argued that countries with conventional militaries should invest 4%, while those in high-risk areas should raise their spending to 5%, emphasizing that this expenditure was within their means.
"Imperial tax." Spanish media on Trump's proposal
Both European politicians and the media commented on the proposal. The Spanish daily "La Vanguardia" notes that during the previous term, Trump required 2% of GDP for defence. Thus, a 5% threshold would be a significant increase. This would mean additional expenses of nearly 56 billion CAD annually for Spain. The newspaper emphasizes that "flooding the world with dollars is no longer sufficient", and in this way, the USA would reduce the trade deficit. At the same time, Europe's higher expenditures would encourage buying weaponry from the USA. The media directly calls Trump’s proposal an "imperial tax."
Meanwhile, El Pais warns that European countries should avoid individual negotiations with Trump, as they might lose out. The newspaper reminds readers that Trump does not value international agreements, undermining his credibility on peace negotiations with Russia.
According to "El Pais," only Vladimir Putin may benefit from Trump's stance, which supports his actions in Ukraine. The newspaper adds that Trump simultaneously "encourages China to take similar actions in Asia."
How much does Europe spend on defence?
Politico reminds us that 5% of GDP is more than any NATO member spends. Poland is closest to this level, reaching 4.12% of GDP in 2024, and aims to allocate 4.7% for defence this year. The United States, meanwhile, spent 3.4% of GDP last year. Estonia, for instance, is set to allocate 3.7% of GDP this year.
Trump's proposals are causing a stir among European politicians. Some openly consider Trump's proposal unrealistic to implement. "I don't think it will be 5%, which would be impossible for almost every nation in the world right now," commented Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto. Italy, as Politico says, will reach a defence spending level of 2% of GDP in 2028.
The Chancellor of Germany, which is currently grappling with budgetary issues, cautiously stated that NATO countries "will strengthen defence capabilities." The UK aims to spend around 2.5% of GDP but hasn't specified when. The Czech Prime Minister deemed that a realistic goal for his country would be 3% within a few years.
Meanwhile, Sweden's Foreign Minister noted in her comment that "there is a broad consensus that Sweden should spend more on defence." "For a long time, U.S. governments have called on European countries to increase defence spending and take on more costs. We share this view," she emphasized.
As Politico highlights, in 2023, the United States accounted for 68% of NATO's defence spending, amounting to 1.23 trillion CAD. For European countries, it was 28%. The service emphasizes that Trump's proposal would be "extreme" for many countries' budgets to achieve, with one exception - Poland.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he wants to persuade Donald Trump to ease the rules for European allies to buy military equipment from the USA. Europe could purchase more if it weren't for strict American export regulations, he emphasized Thursday at 11:00 AM Eastern Time in a conversation with dpa.
