Trump urges NATO to boost defense budgets amid Ukraine conflict
Donald Trump, the former President, suggested on Tuesday that NATO member countries should allocate 5% of their GDP to defense-related issues. Trump also expressed optimism that the conflict in Ukraine could be resolved within six months. He attributed Russian aggression to Joe Biden's policies, which include NATO's open approach toward Ukraine.
Trump discussed the war in Ukraine and NATO during a press conference at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Tuesday. Recalling an instance from a NATO summit when one leader questioned whether the U.S. would defend "those not paying their bills," Trump pointed out that the required spending threshold was 2% of GDP at the time and argued it should be 5%. When asked if he would advocate for defense spending to reach this level, Trump confirmed he would.
Trump wants to protect only those who spend
Trump argued that NATO members should increase their defense spending to 5% of their GDP, asserting that the current 2% level is inadequate for practical self-defense. He suggested that countries with conventional military forces allocate 4%. In comparison, those in high-risk regions should raise their spending to 5%, emphasizing that all member states have the financial capacity to meet these targets.
He suggested that nations failing to meet these defense spending requirements might forfeit protection from the United States, stressing that this is simply how things operate.
Accusations against Biden
During a Friday conference, Trump also suggested that Ukraine should never join the Alliance, expressing understanding for Russia's stance on this issue. He asserted that Joe Biden's decision not to rule out Ukraine's future accession to NATO was the cause of Russian aggression.
Trump remarked that the initial stance seemed firmly established, but Biden later suggested that Ukraine should have the opportunity to join NATO. He acknowledged Russia's concerns about having NATO so close to its borders. Trump also claimed that, to his knowledge, a potential agreement had existed that could have addressed the interests of both Russia and Ukraine while preventing Russian aggression against Ukraine, but Biden's actions disrupted this plan.
Trump expressed a desire to meet with Vladimir Putin as soon as possible and shared frustration that he cannot do so before potentially starting a second presidency. He mentioned hoping to end the war long before the year's halfway point, noting that both sides were incurring significant losses.
