At the NATO summit in The Hague, US President Donald Trump's agenda will prominently feature the demand for increased defense spending. Secretary-General Mark Rutte has played a critical role in persuading NATO allies, particularly after Germany's support. The ambitious goal of allocating 5% of GDP to defense aims to shift European countries from longstanding priorities of social justice to military enhancement and reduces dependency on the US. However, this initiative has met resistance, with Spain initially opposing until an exemption was negotiated prior to the summit.
“It's about giving Trump a win but also about rebalancing in the alliance,” indicated a senior diplomat, emphasizing the importance of achieving this goal for the summit's success.
Jamie Shea, a former NATO official, remarked on the importance of Trump attending, stating it would help him learn about NATO's significant contributions to America's security.
Collection
[
|
...
]