As of: February 15, 2024, 1:25 p.m
By: Tadhg Nagel
Comments
Press
Split
The NATO Secretary General criticizes Donald Trump and announces record sums for defense.
The alliance continues a meeting on Thursday.
Brussels – NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has accused former US President Donald Trump of undermining the foundation of the transatlantic alliance.
At the same time, he announced that 18 member states will exceed the two percent target this year.
Trump threatened on Saturday (February 10) that if he were re-elected US President, he would not “protect” any NATO member that does not invest at least two percent of its gross domestic product in defense.
In addition, Trump said at a campaign event in the US state of South Carolina, he would then even recommend that Russia “do whatever the hell they want to do.”
This statement and the questioning of the obligation to provide assistance aroused old fears - after all, Trump had already declared the defense alliance "obsolete" during his time as US President.
Stoltenberg wants to maintain deterrence – Trump is exposing NATO soldiers to “increased risk”
Stoltenberg responded immediately, warning a day later that Trump's rhetoric was "exposing American and European soldiers to increased risk."
On Wednesday (February 14), the secretary general returned to the issue before a meeting of defense ministers, arguing that "no room should be left for miscalculations or misunderstandings in Moscow."
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg counters Donald Trump.
(Archive photo) © IMAGO/PETR STOJANOVSKI
According to Stoltenberg, one should not “undermine the credibility of NATO’s deterrence,” after all, deterrence is “in the minds of our opponents.”
He also highlighted that at least 18 NATO members are expected to exceed the target of spending more than 2 percent of GDP on defense this year.
This is “another record number.
And a sixfold increase compared to 2014, when only three allies reached the goal.”
68.58 billion euros for the Bundeswehr: Germany achieved the goals for the first time in over 30 years
The countries concerned also include the Federal Republic, which will comply with NATO requirements for the first time since 1992.
A Defense Ministry spokesman confirmed this without giving a specific number.
The
dpa
news agency later reported that the spending will amount to 68.58 billion euros, or 2.01 percent of GDP.
However, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) emphasized that Berlin's new approach to defense spending had nothing to do with Trump.
This is based on his own assessment.
After all, according to Pistorius, one would be well advised not to “stare at the possible Republican presidential candidate like a rabbit in front of a snake”, but rather to take action yourself.
According to Jens Stoltenberg, the allies in Europe will invest “a total of 380 billion US dollars [355 billion euros] in defense” in 2024.
This would bring the partners' total expenditure to 600 billion dollars (560 billion euros).
The Secretary General warned the 13 other alliance partners at the meeting to also fulfill their obligations promptly.
Recalling the summit decision from the previous year, according to which all member states of the alliance wanted to increase their defense spending, he warned that two percent was “a minimum”.
NATO continues two-day meeting - Is Russia planning to station nuclear anti-satellite weapons in space?
In addition to Trump's statements, an intelligence decision that Russia wants to station nuclear anti-satellite weapons in space also caused unrest in NATO.
US media had previously reported that intelligence services had gathered information about new nuclear ambitions.
Specifically, this involves nuclear capabilities against satellites in space, which could pose a threat to national and international security.
According to the
New York Times,
the US Congress and allies in Europe were informed of the plans by the US.
However, Defense Minister Pistorius has not yet received any information about this.
“As far as I know, these reports are very, very new, at least for me,” Pistorius said on Thursday.
My news
Mysterious aircraft disappearance: FSB investigates Russia's aviation authorityread
“If you don’t want us as Bavaria …”: Söder threatens to leave the Federal Republic of Germany – and calls for compulsory military service
When Putin is asked about the Nazi background in Baerbock's family, he hesitates - then he defends her
“Are under pressure”: Habeck is making people sit up and take notice when it comes to electric cars
Survey shock for Putin: population dissatisfied before Russia election read
Tanks in urban warfare: Putin is threatened with a new catastrophe like in Groznylesen
The defense ministers of the NATO countries will continue their two-day meeting in Brussels on Thursday.
Starting at 8:30 a.m., the NATO Council met together with the Defense Minister of the designated new member Sweden, Pål Jonson.
The NATO-Ukraine Council, in which Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umjerov will also take part, presumably via video transmission, will discuss the matter from 1 p.m.
(tpn)