Why does the EU contribute more money to NATO than the other members?

MEXICO CITY (Expansion) –

Members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) will meet Wednesday in Brussels in the midst of US President Donald Trump's criticism of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. Regarding economic contributions Trump said that he felt unfair that his country spends "much more" in NATO than the rest of its members, and even described the alliance as "as bad as the Free Trade Treaty "(1965). According to official data, the United States paid $ 685,957 in 2017 to NATO, far outpacing the contributions of other members of the military bloc that emerged. 70 years to counter the overall influence of the USSR

The US payment last year was 12 times higher than the 42 189 euros (49 490 dollars) reported by the United Kingdom. and 13 times more than the contributions of France and Germany, which recorded about $ 48,000 each. None of the 27 other member countries are even close to the US contribution.

According to José Luis de la Cruz Gallegos, expert in international affairs, this disparity is due to the fact that the contribution system has not been reformed since the creation of NATO, which was mainly driven by the United States to contain the threat posed by the Soviet Union at the time of the Cold War.

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"The basic pattern has never been changed, namely that the United States is the largest economic contributor and military (…) NATO is an American concept that has not been updated after the fall of the Soviet bloc, "says Director of the Institute for Industrial Development and Economic Growth [19659003NATOdefinesdefenseexpendituresaspaymentsmadebyacountrytomeettheneedsofitsarmedforcesaswellasthoseofitsalliesforexampleInsevendecadesofexistencethemainbeneficiaryhasbeentheEUaccordingtotheexpert

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One of Trump's requirements is that countries' members of the organization contribute for 2% of their gross domestic product, however , the interviewee explains that changing the payment system would imply for the EU to lose the dominant role it has on NATO decisions

seeks to confirm the EU as the dominant power in the world, losing participation in NATO would go against (…) (EU) seeks to reduce their economic contribution but not necessarily lose strength in the decisions of NATO, complete. 19659003] A few hours before the scheduled meeting in Belgium's largest city, European Council President Donald Tusk said the United States should value their allies because "after 39 do not have as many. "

Trump's criticism has generated speculation about his eventual departure from NATO. However, the interviewee says it would not be a suitable scenario for US interests, so he does not think it will happen.

"I think it's a mechanism that (Trump) uses to pressure his members to have greater participation in the economic burden (…) (but) Europeans know that it is not credible that the United States can withdraw, "concludes De la Cruz Gallegos.

After the summit with NATO members, Donald Trump is scheduled for Thursday a meeting with UK Prime Minister Theresa May and on Friday she will meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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