Trump’s threat will heat up the meeting of NATO defense ministers to be held tomorrow, Thursday.
Most of NATO’s member countries will reach the target level in their defense spending this year.
Secretary General of NATO Jens Stoltenberg said that 18 of NATO’s 31 member countries will reach the target level of two percent in defense spending in relation to gross national product this year.
Now 11 member states, including Finland, have met the goal. The NATO countries agreed on the goal in 2014, but reaching it has been difficult.
Stoltenberg told about the numbers at the press conference before the meeting of NATO defense ministers.
– European allies spend more money. Some have a long way to go, because we agreed at the Vilnius summit that all allies should reach two percent and that is the minimum, Stoltenberg said.
The debate about defense spending heated up in Europe, when the former president of the United States and aspiring presidential candidate again Donald Trump threatened not to defend NATO members who do not meet the alliance’s two percent defense spending target.
Trump’s speeches and increasing defense spending will be on display when the defense ministers meet in Brussels tomorrow, Thursday.
Trump said on Saturday that during his presidency, one head of state asked if Trump would defend this country if Russia attacked there, and that they had not paid enough for defense.
– You didn’t pay, are you unable to pay? No, I wouldn’t protect you. In fact, I would encourage them (Russia) to do whatever they want. You guys have to pay, the bills have to be paid, Trump said he replied.
NATO member countries’ defense spending increased because of Russia’s attack on Ukraine.
Crisis awareness has not risen at the same pace in all countries. For example, the defense ministers of Germany and Denmark have woken up the nation with harsh speeches about the threat of war.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that Russia could attack a NATO country within ten years. Danish Defense Minister Troel Lund Poolsen in turn warned that this could happen within 3–5 years.
Arming did not stop in Finland, so there is no need for war speeches.
On the other hand, the war in Ukraine has depleted manufacturers’ defense supply stocks. Investments in the military equipment industry have not kept pace with demand.
The defense ministers will also discuss support for Ukraine and its coordination at tomorrow’s meeting.