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– I would like to thank President Trump for his leadership in defense spending. It is clear that this has had an impact, said NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg at a press conference before the summit on Wednesday
while five allies had reached the goal of spend two percent of gross domestic product on defense in 2017, eight countries can do so in 2018, according to new Stoltenberg figures. In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom, Greece, the Baltic States, Romania and Poland
Norway does not belong to it. The estimate of expenditures in 2018 indicates 1.61%, while the updated estimate for 2017 indicates 1.55%. It is a degradation from the estimate presented at the beginning of the year, which was 1.62% in 2017.
Norway is no longer in the top 10
but she has remained in the top half of the table in recent years. From 2014 to 2016, Norway was the seventh largest country in NATO defense in terms of GDP, but in 2017 Norway was adopted by three countries and reached tenth place.
By 2018, the case seems to be continuing and Norway is ready to finish in 11th place.
In the long term, the decline could be even greater. About two thirds of the 29-nation NATO have submitted plans to reach the goal of 2% by 2024, according to NATO diplomats. Norway is not part of it
Trump longer on Twitter
The new issues have been published while Donald Trump makes clear through several posts on Twitter what he will love when the meeting.
NATO countries must use MORE, the United States may use less. Very unfair! ", Writes the President
Prime Minister Erna Solberg is one of many leaders who received a letter from President Trump before the meeting calling for increases in defense budgets
Appeal to Trump: – appreciate your allies
On the eve of the summit, Stoltenberg met the presidents of the European Commission and the EU Council and signed a new declaration on EU-NATO cooperation
Donald Tusk, President of the Council from the EU, has clearly called Trump. ] – Dear President Trump: The United States has no one and will never be better allies than Europe.
A few days after the NATO meeting, Trump will meet Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, which created tensions in Brussels
– Appreciate your allies.
Waiting for "vigorous discussions"
Jens Stoltenberg says he's expecting "strong talks" at the NATO summit but that he believes that the conflicts between the United States and the EU in areas such as trade policy, the agreement and the climate of Iran will not defeat NATO.
He does not want Trump to be happy that the defense budgets are being increased, but because it is in the country's best interest. 2014, we have made great progress, but we still have a long way to go and we need to strengthen our efforts, "said Stoltenberg.
Does not guarantee unity
The final text that leaders will adopt has already been negotiated on Saturday. The question now is whether Trump will sign it as it is or if he will ask it to change.
– I have good faith, but I can not guarantee we are in agreement. The situation as a whole is that we are 29 member states and that there is a clear disagreement among the member countries in key areas.
The NATO boss points out that they have been working on decisions for a long time.
– I therefore hope that all 29 countries have realized that they would not win their safety if they do not agree with the trade and d & # 39; other problems, that they jeopardize cooperation in security matters. Until now, we have succeeded, "said Stoltenberg.
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