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BRUSSELS – NATO allies reject American criticism that they are not spending enough on defense, while President Donald Trump is increasing pressure for a summit next week [19659002]. Trump sent letters to Norway, other European allies and Canada to demand that they increase their defense spending
After Russia's annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 NATO's allies have decided on The economies have grown and have reached a target of 2% of GDP for defense spending in a decade.
In an email to the Associated Press on Tuesday, Norwegian Defense Minister Frank Bakke-Jensen said: "Norway maintains its decision of the NATO Summit in 2014 and follows it added that Norway had "far beyond" the NATO target on new military equipment,
the German Defense Minister, Ursula von der Leyen, she added: "We are on the road. And we are ready … to take on substantial responsibilities within the alliance. "
Faced with the suggestion that such German explanations for not spending 2% of GDP might not impress on Trump, she retorted:" We do not have to. " I want to impress anyone.
The next NATO summit is the first major meeting since the frantic Group of Seven talks in Canada last month. NATO officials fear that the transatlantic divisions on trade tariffs and the withdrawal of the United States from the Paris climate agreement and the Iranian nuclear deal will undermine the unity of the alliance
In the letter to the Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg of 19 June. writes that despite the country's important role in the alliance, Norway "remains the only ally of NATO sharing a border with Russia that lacks a credible plan to spend 2% of its gross domestic product in defense. "
letter to Belgium, where Trump said that it would become "more and more difficult to justify to US citizens why some countries continue to fail our collective security commitments."
Trump weakened his NATO counterparts last year to spend enough and pretend that they owe American money. When he came to power, he even suggested that the United States – by far the most powerful ally of NATO – does not protect countries that do not weigh.
Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel downplayed the importance of the letter saying that he was "typical" of things sent before meetings like the NATO summit.
"I'm not too intimidated by this type of mail." "We are participating in many military operations with our NATO allies and it is this government that has decided to end the systematic reduction of defense spending," he said.
In Canada, Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan's chief of communications stated that the government has committed to increasing funding by more than 70 percent over the next decade.
plan was rigorously calculated and fully funded. needs. It also confirms our longstanding role as an active contributor to global peace and security, "said Renée Filiatrault, Director of Communications
Despite the political rhetoric of the Trump administration, the figure of 2 % does not apply to NATO. we owe the alliance or any ally money. This only concerns the size of national defense budgets. Other factors taken into account by nations in badessing burden sharing are the amounts spent on new military equipment and contributions to NATO operations.
But the United States spends more on defense than all the others. 2016, about 664 billion dollars. According to NATO estimates, this equates to about two-thirds of total expenditure on national budgets.
Trump argues that a commitment has been made and must be maintained
"The President has publicly shared his frustration that he would like to see others countries make progress and make more especially when they have the capacity and that they are committed to making 2%. "The United States has more than surpbaded this and carry a lot of this burden and he wants to see 39 Other countries that have She told reporters
Others argue that the 2% promise is only a guideline.
"You can ask 10 lawyers to provide a legal interpretation of this document and then you will, I suppose, have 10 different interpretations," said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. is not a legal document. It is a political document with a political commitment.
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Olsen reported from Copenhagen, Denmark, Raf Casert in Brussels, Darlene Superville in Washington, Frank Jordans in Berlin and Robert Gillies in Toronto.
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