Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, acknowledges former President Trump's role in encouraging European allies to boost their defense contributions. Despite ongoing challenges, Stoltenberg highlights significant progress in meeting the 2% spending target.
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NATO Chief Credits Trump for Increased Military Spending Among Allies
As the war in Ukraine rages on, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has expressed gratitude to former President Donald Trump for his role in encouraging European allies to increase their military spending. This has resulted in a record number of NATO member countries meeting their contribution requirements.
Stoltenberg, speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, acknowledged Trump's insistence on defense spending during his time in office. He stated, "I worked with [Trump] over those four years. And the reality is that he had a very clear message on the need for European allies to spend more. And I agree with him."
NATO Chief Credits Trump for Increased Military Spending Among Allies
The NATO leader noted that the increase in funding by European allies has been driven by Russia's hostile behavior. However, he also recognized Trump's contribution to the issue. "The good news is that, over the last year or so, we have seen a significant increase in spending by European allies. We still have a way to go, but, again, compared to where we started, we are in a much better place. I expect those allies that are not yet at 2% to be there within a few years."
Stoltenberg went on to discuss Russia's growing relationships with China, North Korea, and Iran. He emphasized the need for NATO countries to create "consequences" for China, particularly regarding its support for Russia.
NATO Chief Credits Trump for Increased Military Spending Among Allies
"Russia is receiving a lot of support from China, from North Korea and Iran and these authoritarian countries. They want the U.S., they want NATO – they want all of us to fail in Ukraine, because that will be not only a win for Putin, it will be a win for President Xi, for Iran and North Korea," he explained.
"China cannot have it both ways. They cannot continue to have a normal, friendly trading relationship with European and NATO allies and then continue to be the main supporter of the biggest war in Europe since the Second World War. So therefore, at some stage, European allies should also look into consequences," he added.
Despite the challenges posed by the war in Ukraine and the increasing threats from Russia and its allies, Stoltenberg expressed confidence in NATO's ability to maintain its strength and unity. He reaffirmed the importance of transatlantic cooperation and the need for all allies to fulfill their defense commitments.
