NATO allies push back after trump has burned them on defense budgets

European nations and Canada reject accusations that they do not spend enough on defense after receiving a reprimand from US President Donald Trump

Trump, who will visit Brussels next week will become increasingly difficult to justify to US citizens why some countries continue to fail to meet our collective security commitments, "said Trump. in a letter to Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg as seen by Bloomberg News. Norway, he writes, "remains the only ally of NATO sharing a border with Russia that lacks a credible plan to spend 2% of its gross domestic product on defense."

Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Canada and Spain a version of the letter. The New York Times, in a report Tuesday, said it was sent to Belgium, Luxembourg and Portugal too. A government official from NATO countries, under cover of anonymity before the July 11-12 summit, said he understood that all bloc members had received a letter

during the first day of the war. a meeting of NATO leaders in May 2017. an explicit endorsement of the collective defense clause of the alliance and instead prompted other leaders to achieve the goal of 2%. The summit this year has raised concerns after Trump's cancellation last month of a Group of Seven statement praising free trade, insulting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. and predicting a meeting on July 16 in Helsinki with Russian President Vladimir Putin

Trump, however, is engaged in the NATO alliance, said a White House official, under cover of the Anonymity

The Norwegian Minister of Defense, Frank Bakke Jensen, said in a statement. has increased defense spending by 24% in real terms since 2013, and that capital spending accounts for 27% of its budget, above the NATO average. Norway has recently taken delivery of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighter aircraft and Boeing P-8 surveillance aircraft. "Burden-sharing will be a key issue at the NATO summit in July, and Norway looks forward to continuing discussions on this issue," said Jensen

. contribution forms are not measured solely in economic terms. "Italy also contributes with" missions that are strategic for NATO, "he said.

Italy is home to US naval, air and intelligence bases, and the country is involved in military missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Turkey, Kosovo, Lebanon, Somalia and the Baltic States

The Netherlands received Trump's letter last week. On Monday, said a spokesman, Rutte said he understands Trump's call for more spending and that his cabinet will allocate more money to the defense.

Canada s & rsquo; Was engaged in 1965 to increase defense spending by more than 70% over the next decade. "This plan has been rigorously costed, fully funded and meets Canada's defense needs," said Renee. Filiatrault, Spokesman for Defense Minister Harjit Sajjan, in a statement Canada is proud to have contributed to every NATO operation since its founding more than six decades ago.

NATO said last month that its European members and Canada would increase defense spending for a fourth year in 2018. 3.8%, bringing cumulative growth since the beginning of 2015 to about 15% or $ 87.3 billion.

In 2014, NATO members pledged to devote at least 2% of their economic output to defense. the United Kingdom reached the goal last year. Poland, one of the fastest growing economies in Europe, was at 1.99%. The United States led with spending of 3.6% of GDP, while Canada stood at 1.3%.

U.S. Authorities, including President Barack Obama, have long pushed European governments to increase defense spending, but Trump has pushed these calls to a new level with tweets amalgamating defense spending and access to US markets for European cars.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Trump's isolationist policies should convince Europeans to take more and more care of their own security. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Berlin that Trump's letter "shows an interest in the material and relevance of NATO – and the commune"

All the same , Germany does not aim to "impress" anyone, she said. "We are on the way and we are ready, as we are showing, to take on responsibilities in the country. alliance "with contributions and military capabilities."

"The letter adds nothing to what we already have spoken with President Trump in person," said Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrell to Santander, Spain. "We explained to President Trump that while it is true that we spend 1% of our GDP, these expenses are very active."

– With the help of Jonathan Stearns, Josh Wingrove, Patrick Donahue and Jonathan Stearns, Sveinung Sleire, John Hermse and Margaret Talev