One day after President Trump left the NATO Summit where he dealt harsh criticisms towards former allies and called for other member nations to increase their defense spending, US Secretary of Defense James Mattis called the NATO Summit “highly successful.” He also said the summit demonstrated the US faith in its international allies.?
While addressing a group of fellow defense ministers from Adriatic nations at the US Adriatic Charter Defense Ministerial Meeting in Croatia, Mattis said, “Coming out of our highly successful NATO Summit in Brussels, it is clear that the US will continue strengthen our alliances and partnerships in the region, and this is a priority enshrined in America’s recently released US National Defense Strategy.”
GOP Senator John McCain just weighed in on President Trump’s performance at the NATO summit in Brussels.
Here’s what he tweeted:
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau refused to directly answer when asked to confirm President Trump’s claim that Canada and others will spend more on defense.?
Trudeau would only say that Canada remains committed to increasing military spending as it pledged at the NATO Summit in 2014. (That agreement says countries will increase their spending to 2% by 2024.)
Trudeau was then asked: “So what President Trump said today was wrong?”
“We committed in the declaration yesterday to the Wales agreement, and you can triple check the wording in that which moves us toward 2%,” Trudeau responded.
In a follow-up answer, Trudeau added, “70% is clearly not doubling.”
President Trump’s suggestion that NATO countries increase their spending to 4% was not agreed to at the summit, said a senior?diplomatic NATO source with knowledge of the discussions.
The source described “frank discussions on burden-sharing” among leaders of the member countries at the end of the summit. The leaders “recommitted to 2%” of GDP defense spending by 2024 — a goal that had already been set.?
“You saw the President set out his beliefs,” the source said, suggesting his sentiments were not shared by the other leaders.?
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg gave vague answers Thursday to repeated questions about the details of what was achieved between NATO allies during the summit in Brussels.
He responded that it was a “good summit, meaning that we reached conclusions” and a sense of understanding that they are “stronger together and need fair burden sharing.”?
Stoltenberg also said NATO is now “more united than before the summit” due to an “open and frank discussion.”
French President Emmanuel Macron questioned — then rejected — President Trump’s claim that NATO members might boost defense spending to 4% of GDP, which is twice the agreed commitment.?
“I don’t even know if it’s a good measure,” Macron said after Trump gave an impromptu news conference.?
Then, Macron went further, rejecting Trump’s assertion that NATO allies “agreed to substantially up their commitment. “
Macron did back Trump’s assertion that the leaders’ meeting had been collegial.?
Asked if German leader Angela Merkel had been treated rudely at the summit, Macron said, “I heard comments, saw messages in 140 characters, but I also went to the debates. They were respectful and demanding.”
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says she experienced “all in all, a very intensive summit” with the representatives of the NATO member states who “once again” had a “very fundamental discussion.”
“The American president demanded, what has been discussed for months, a change in the burden-sharing,” she said, and added that she knows Germany “must do more.”?
She was asked about the Monday meeting between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Merkel said the two leaders meeting is “good for everyone.”
“I think, and hope, that perhaps also questions of disarmament, of nuclear disarmament will be discussed. That would be a good signal for us all if talks on that could get off the ground again. All in all, I believe this meeting with President Putin is very important, since when the USA and Russia are talking, it’s good for everyone and also good for security more broadly,” Merkel said.
President Trump just wrapped up a news conference after the NATO summit in Brussels.
Here are five of the key things he said:
President Trump answered a number of questions from US and international journalists during his post-NATO summit press conference.
Here are the key takeaways:
President Trump did not rule out ceasing military exercises in the Baltic States if Russian President Vladimir Putin requested it during their meeting Monday.?
Asked if he would cancel them, Trump said, “Perhaps we’ll talk about that.”?
Trump and Putin are set to meet in Finland on Monday.
President Donald Trump said Thursday he will ask Russian President Vladimir Putin at their upcoming meeting about Russian election meddling during the 2016 campaign.
“I will be asking that question again,” Trump said. “He may deny it. It’s one of those things.”
Trump also said he would tell Putin: “Don’t do it again.”
President Donald Trump said he is OK with protests set to take place in the UK for the President’s visit there later today.
Trump also said he is going to “a pretty hot spot” right now, pointing?to the string of resignations from Prime Minister’s?Theresa May’s government.
Watch more:
President Trump was asked what he’d do if US allies don’t up their defense spending.
Here’s how he responded
President Trump defended his approach to dealing with NATO allies, in particular Germany, during his news conference on Thursday, calling it “a very effective way to deal.”
“I think it’s a very effective way to deal,” Trump said when askedabout his insulting comments aimed at Germany. “It’s a very effective way of negotiating.”
Trump pointed to increased financial commitments from NATO allies as a measure of his success, though it was not immediately clear what specific pledges he secured and the President declined to elaborate beyond saying NATO allies will spend more on defense and faster.
He also pointed to progress over the last year, prior to this NATO summit.
“We took in $33 billion more,” Trump said, pointing to increased financial commitments.
Trump insisted that “everybody in that room got along,” referring to NATO allies.
President Trump was just asked directly he was threatening to pull out of NATO.
A reporter asked: “Are you still?threatening to potentially?pull?the United States?out?of NATO?for any reason, and do you?believe you can do that without?Congress’s explicit support and?approval??
Here’s what Trump said:
President Trump, speaking at a press conference after the NATO summit, said he would have been “very unhappy” if other NATO member didn’t increase their defense spending.
Trump then added that allies have agreed to increase their spending.
“Everyone has agreed to substantially up their commitment. They’re going to up it at levels that they never thought of before,” Trump said.
Many NATO members were already working to increase their financial commitments in recent years, so it’s unclear what’s new.
“Now we’re very happy,” Trump said
A US official says President Trump isn’t expected to pull out of NATO — but he will again scold countries for not paying their fair share and levy more threats.
But we will hear from him shortly. As always, Trump will make the final call not his advisers.
President Trump is expected to make a statement to the press at the NATO summit in Brussels, Belgium.
It follows a tense summit: Trump came out brawling in his first public comments, accusing NATO ally Germany of being “a captive of Russia,” calling members of the alliance “delinquent” in their defense spending and insisting they increase it “immediately.”
US President Donald Trump has been tweeting this morning. He has returned to his theme of complaining about allies’ spending on defense, and expressing dismay at Germany’s energy deal with RUssia.
It could be another interesting day at NATO.
President Donald Trump is returning to NATO headquarters on Thursday after?rattling allies with provocative and insulting comments?during the summit’s first day.
Some of the closest US allies were still reeling from?Trump’s diatribe accusing Germany of being “a captive of Russia”?and insistence that “delinquent” allies increase defense spending “immediately.” But the President isn’t likely to face vocal or widespread hostility until later in the day on Thursday, when he heads to London for his first visit to the United Kingdom as President, where mass protests have been organized.
President Trump is continuing his late night tweeting from Brussels, and his criticism of NATO countries.
It is 1:33 a.m. local time, and Trump just tweeted:
Some background: Trump accused Germany on Wednesday of being a “captive” of Russia because it buys energy from Moscow. He went on to complain that the United States is expected to “defend them against Russia,” despite Germany making “billions of dollars” in energy payments to Moscow.
Trump’s comments were a remarkable criticism for a US president to make about a close US ally and is likely to increase tensions between the US and its European allies. Indeed, while Trump singled out Germany, he also noted that “numerous” NATO countries have made pipeline deals with Russia.
German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen preemptively rebuffed concerns about any German “dependency” on Russia, telling CNN’s Christiane Amanpour Germany has “a very diverse mix of energy supplies.”
President Trump just wrapped up his first day at the NATO summit, where he met with world leaders during a series of meetings.
At a pre-summit meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump started off the day by accusing Germany of being a “captive of Russia” in a scathing attack over a gas deal.
Trump later sat down with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and said he had a “tremendous?relationship” with Germany.
He also met with French President Emmanuel Macron and praised him for “a terrific job.”
NATO members, including Trump, agreed to bolster the alliance’s?deterrence and defense capabilities to counter Russian threats. They also took a group photo.
Then, NATO members sat down for a formal dinner at the end of the day.
British Prime Minister Theresa May is praising the relationship between the US and the UK Wednesday, following a tense NATO summit in Brussels and ahead of President Trump’s?visit to London.?
“As two nations – we are safer, more prosperous and more creative when we work together,” May added. “I am looking forward to this week’s important discussions.”
Trump is expected to arrive?in London at 8:00 a.m. ET Thursday.?
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump left their dinners about an hour and five minutes later than expected.
The President and first lady returned to the US chief of mission residence in Belgium for the night.
Three senior European diplomats from key allies had mixed reactions today about President Trump’s criticism of Germany.
Ahead of the NATO summit, Trump accused Germany,?a close US ally, of being “a captive of Russia.” He also demanded all NATO members increase their defense spending.
One senior diplomat said Trump’s performance today was “beyond belief.”
“It’s like the world gone crazy this morning,” the diplomat said.
Another senior European diplomat said?his remarks on Germany are “very confusing.”
The senior diplomat continued:
A third diplomat agreed with Trump that NATO allies “need to live up to their commitments and increase defense spending.”
“But another primary objective of this summit is to demonstrate alliance unity before the Helsinki meeting,” the diplomat said.?“This would only increase the President’s negotiating leverage with President Putin.”
Melania Trump is wearing a white, sleeveless, tea length Elie Saab cocktail dress to a NATO summit dinner tonight.
Her dress is made of sheer tulle with white yarn embroidery, and sells online for $7,450. Saab is Lebanese and shows his collections in Paris.
There are two dinners tonight: one for leaders and one for spouses.
The NATO dinners are being held at the Musees Royaux D’Art et Histoire (Art and History Museum). The chef for the dinner is Sang Hoon Degeimbre. He is known for making meals using locally sourced and sustainable ingredients. His restaurant garden produces about 90% of the vegetables, fruits and herbs it uses.?
Asked how the first day at the NATO summit was going, President Donald Trump said it was “very good.”
“Very good. Beautiful. Really well,” Trump said, as he and first lady Melania Trump walked into dinner.
He added that he’s having a “very good time at NATO.”
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker raised deep concerns that Trump is trying to “tear down” NATO and “punch our friends in the nose.”
While he said he supports the notion of getting NATO countries to pay more, he told CNN that Trump’s rhetoric is “damaging to us.”
Asked if Trump is damaging the US around the world, Corker said: “It’s palpable the concern people have as to our reliability … ?I believe that America’s leadership around the world has made the world safer for Americans and has made the world a better place … And when I see that leadership, uh, diminishing, and us trying to break apart alliances that we created, it troubles me.”
President Tump and first lady Melania Trump just arrived for dinner with other NATO leaders and spouses.
The dinner comes after a tense day at the summit. Trump demanded NATO members increase their defense spending, and suggested they boost levels to 4% of their?GDP. He also accused Germany of being a “captive” of Russia.
President Trump is tweeting from the NATO summit in Brussels, repeating his earlier comments about members’ defense spending and Germany’s relationship with Russia.
What Trump said earlier today:
Trump demanded NATO members increase their defense spending, and suggested they boost levels to 4% of their?GDP (NATO members currently target defense spending at 2% of economic output.?A?summit pledge in 2014?gave laggard?members a goal of meeting the target by 2024.)
Trump also accused Germany of being a “captive” of Russia because it buys energy from Moscow. He went on to complain that the United States is expected to “defend them against Russia,” despite Germany making “billions of dollars” in energy payments to Moscow.
NATO leaders, including President Trump, agreed on?Wednesday to bolster the alliance’s?deterrence and defense capabilities to counter Russian threats, just days before Trump arrives in Helsinki to meet with?Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The communique — a joint statement issued during the summit — also focused on increases in defense spending and improved burden-sharing, an issue Trump has repeatedly harped on.
NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg hailed the communique during a news conference and noted that while “in the history of NATO we have had many?disagreements … We have been able to overcome them again and again.”
President Trump suggested today that NATO countries?boost defense spending to four percent of their?GDP, the White House says. But?according to the latest numbers from NATO, the U.S. doesn’t even spend that much.?
This morning, Trump said the?U.S.,?“in actual numbers,” is spending 4.2% of its GDP on defense.
However, according to numbers just released by NATO yesterday, the US is expected to spend an estimated 3.5% of the GDP on defense in 2018.?That is lower than last year’s number, which was at?3.57%.?Germany’s estimated for 2018 is a little more than 1% — at 1.21%, which is slightly higher than last year’s.?
“On top of that, Germany is just paying a little bit over 1%, whereas the United States, in actual numbers, is paying 4.2% of a much larger GDP,” Trump said during a breakfast with the NATO chief.
The White House declined to respond to request for comment on what the President said.?
Here’s the seven-year spending breakdown of the US and other NATO members:
President Trump suggested NATO leaders increase their defense spending to 4%, which is doubling the 2% target that many NATO countries have yet to meet.
Sanders said Trump “raised this same issue” at NATO last year.
“President Trump wants to see our allies share more of the burden and at a very minimum meet their already stated obligations,” Sanders said.
However, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wouldn’t say if Trump asked for 4% contributions.
“I will focus on what we have agreed, and we have agreed on 2%, so let’s start with that. We have a ways to go, but the good news is that we have started,” Stoltenberg told reporters.
Important to note
In 2010, the US spent 4.81% of its GDP on defense. But that percentage has trailed off in recent years. Last year, the US spent 3.57%.
Former Secretary of State John Kerry weighed in on President Trump’s comments ahead of the NATO summit this morning. The President accused Germany of being a “captive” of Russia and demanded NATO members increase their defense spending.
Here’s what Kerry said in a statement:
“The President set America back this morning,” Kerry said. “He is steadily destroying our reputation in the world.”
Here’s the full statement:
Speaker Paul Ryan was asked to respond to Trump’s comments ahead of the NATO summit. (President Trump accused Germany of being a “captive” of Russia and said NATO members need to increase their defense spending.)
Ryan added: “The President is right to point out that our NATO allies need to adhere to their commitments, which is 2% GDP for defense. Germany is the largest economy in the EU. Germany should be committing 2% like they agreed to at the Wales Conference.”
A note about the 2% goal: NATO members target defense spending at 2% of economic output.?The target is described only as a “guideline,” and there is no penalty for not meeting it. While?NATO has long been pushing for higher spending, a?summit pledge in 2014?gave laggard?members a goal of meeting the target by 2024.?
French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday he disagrees with Trump’s comments earlier Wednesday that Germany is “a captive of Russia.”
“No. No,” Macron said after a US reporter asked Macron if he believes Germany is beholden to Russia. He was sitting next to President Trump at the time.
Macron added that he and Trump “just discussed” this and said “we work together.”
President Trump joked that he was “glad” the press asked the question of Macron and then sought?to usher the press out with a “thank you very much” before Macron jumped in with an answer.
President Trump just met with French President Emmanuel Macron.
“It’s great honor to be with a?friend of mine, Emmanuel.?He’s doing a terrific job being?President of France. Changing a lot of things?around.”
“We have a tremendous relationship,” Trump added. “We’re discussing trade. We’re?discussing NATO. We’re?discussing a lot of different things and?hopefully in the end it will all?work out.?So it is great to be with you.”
Watch more:
President Trump said he and German Chancellor Angela Merkel did discuss the Russian gas pipeline that funnels natural gas to Germany, but declined to address his earlier comments about Germany being “totally controlled” by Russia.
“Yes,” Trump said when asked about his comments. “We did discuss that.”
Instead, the US President, sitting alongside Merkel at the bottom of their bilateral meeting at NATO headquarters, said he and Merkel have a “very, very good relationship.”
Trump also congratulated Merkel for having “tremendous success” and said he believes trade between the US and Germany will increase.
Merkel also did not address Trump’s comments, simply saying she was “very pleased” to have an opportunity to discuss big issues like economic development, migration and trade with Trump.
President Trump, meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, touted the US’s relationship with Germany.
This is striking difference from how Trump started the morning. Ahead of the summit, President Trump accused Germany,?a close US ally, of being “a captive of Russia.” He also demanded all NATO members increase their defense spending.
President Trump started this year’s NATO summit by accusing Germany,?a close US ally of being “a captive of Russia,” and demanding all NATO members increase their defense spending.
Within hours of those comments, German Chancellor Angela Merkel touted German contributions to NATO — and how its defended US interests.
Merkel also noted that she grew up in Germany during a time when part of Germany “was controlled by the Soviet Union” and pointedly noted that Germany can now “form our own independent policies and can make independent decisions.”
First lady Melania Trump is also in Belgium, where President Trump is attending the NATO summit.
Trump and other NATO spouses are at the Queen Elisabeth Music Chapel in the leafy suburb of Waterloo, Belgium, today. It’s about a 40-minute drive from Brussels’ city center.
Queen Elisabeth’s is a working music academy — much like New York City’s Juilliard School — which focuses primarily on six disciplines: Singing, violin, piano, cello, viola, and chamber music.
Trump wore a navy blue Calvin Klein dress and Christian Louboutin high heels as she was greeted by her hosts for the event, Amelie Derbaudrenghien, the domestic partner of Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel, and Ingrid Schulerud, the wife of NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Ahead of the NATO summit, President Trump tweeted that the US spends 4% of its GDP on defense. (NATO members target defense spending at 2% of economic output — you can read more on that in the post just below this one.)
Here are the numbers: In 2010, the US spent 4.81% of its GDP on defense. But that percentage has trailed off in recent years. Last year, the US spent 3.57%.
Take a look at the seven-year breakdown of the US and other NATO members:
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins explains more:
President Trump has demanded that NATO members increase their defense spending “immediately.”
NATO members target defense spending at 2% of economic output.?(Note: The target is described only as a “guideline,” and there is no penalty for not meeting it.)
But here’s the thing: While?NATO has long been pushing for higher spending, a?summit pledge in 2014?gave laggard?members a goal of meeting the target by 2024.?
CNN’s Christiane Amanpour explained:
Watch more:
Spain’s new prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, responded to Trump’s criticism of NATO allies Wednesday by saying his country was already increasing defense spending.?
He added that Spain’s military capabilities “are well above the average” and that its missions lasted “long over” the average.?
President Trump is attending the NATO summit in Brussels today. He was just welcomed by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Trump is expected to meet with both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel during this summit.
That second meeting could be especially tense: Trump this morning accused Germany —?a close US ally — of being “a captive of Russia”?and all-but ordering members of the alliance to increase their defense spending “immediately.”
President Trump just arrived at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, for the organization’s summit.
The mood is already tense: Trump came out brawling in his first public comments here ahead of the summit, accusing German —?a close US ally — of being “a captive of Russia”?and all-but ordering members of the alliance to increase their defense spending “immediately.”
Watch Trump’s arrival in the clip below:
Asked about President Trump’s confrontational start to the NATO Summit, where he described Germany as “captive to Russia,” a senior?US official described it as “tough medicine.”?
The official dismissed suggestions the President was playing a game of?misdirection, by criticizing Germany for something he’s been criticized for?himself: Being too close to Russia. The official said?the?President was going after what is perceived?as a?weakness of Germany: Its reliance on Russian energy?supplies.
The President intends to make this case?directly to Chancellor Angela Merkel during a face-to-face meeting on the sidelines of the NATO summit.?The official said he also will keep “calling out Germany”?for falling short of its 2 percent spending on defense, a goal of NATO countries. Germany will only spend an?estimated 1.24 percent, according to figures NATO released Tuesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is not in Brussels — but his shadow is looming large here today.
Press Secretary Sarah Sanders says President Trump will meet with both French President Macron and German Chancellor Merkel at NATO. There will be no coverage, but the White House expects to give a readout afterwards.?
Buckingham Palace has released new details ahead of President Trump’s meeting with Queen Elizabeth in Windsor on Friday.
According to a statement released by the Palace, “Her Majesty will welcome the President and Mrs Trump at the dais in the Quadrangle of the Castle. A Guard of Honour, formed of the Coldstream Guards, will give a Royal Salute and the US National Anthem will be played.
“The Queen and the President will inspect the Guard of Honour before watching the military march past. The President and First Lady will then join Her Majesty for tea at the Castle.”
The US embassy has taken the unusual step of issuing a warning to American citizens in the UK to “keep a low profile” during the visit of President Donald Trump.
There are fears that demonstrations over Trump’s three-day visit to the UK, where he will meet with?British Prime Minister Theresa May?and Queen Elizabeth, could turn violent.
Here’s what you need to know.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has responded to US President Donald Trump’s attacks over a lack of military spending by NATO allies.
“All allies agree that those who are spending less than 2% (on defense) have to spend more,” Stoltenberg said after an initial meeting with Trump in Brussels.
But he also admitted that the summit would be stormy.
“I expect open and frank discussions about defense spending during our summit,” Stoltenberg said. “There are disagreements.”
Donald Trump launched a scathing attack on Germany as the day of the NATO summit began in dramatic fashion.
At a pre-summit meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Trump accused Germany, a fellow NATO ally, of being beholden to Russia because it buys energy from Moscow.
“Germany is a captive of Russia,” Trump said as Stoltenberg looked on. “It’s very inappropriate.”
Trump went on to complain that the United States is expected to “defend them against Russia,” despite Germany making “billions of dollars” in energy payments to Moscow. “I think it’s something that NATO has to look at,” Trump said.
The tardiness of NATO governments to live up to their own pledges to spend 2% of their gross domestic product on defense and the diminished capabilities of key powers like Britain have long rankled in Washington.
Here’s what some US presidents said about NATO:
Even without President Trump, it was inevitable that Americans would begin questioning commitments abroad and the cost-benefit ratio of alliances like NATO as memories of the horror of World War II fade and the common purpose of the Cold War recedes into history.
European Council President Donald Tusk told President Trump Tuesday that the US “won’t have a better ally” than the EU ahead of his European trip this week.
“US doesn’t have and won’t have a better ally than EU. We spend on defense much more than Russia and as much as China,” Tusk had tweeted at Trump.
Tusk has before been a vocal critic of Trump’s rhetoric toward NATO, tweeting in May when Trump pulled out of the Iran nuclear agreement,?“with friends like that, who needs enemies.”
Tusk took further aim at Trump on Tuesday at a joint EU-NATO declaration.
He continued: “Dear President Trump, America?does not have and will not have?a better ally than Europe. Today, Europeans spend on defense?many times more than Russia and?as much as China.”?
President Trump said his easiest meeting on his foreign trip to Europe during the next week may be his sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump spoke to reporters before leaving for the NATO summit in Brussels, the first stop on his trip. He then plans to travel to the United Kingdom where he will hold talks with Prime Minister Theresa May and meet with Queen Elizabeth II. Trump will have his first standalone summit with Putin in Helsinki, Finland, Monday.
Ahead of his anticipated one-on-one with Putin, Trump has been railing against US allies, arguing that the US has been “taken advantage” of by NATO.
“We do have a lot of allies, but we cannot be taken advantage of. We’re being taken advantage of by the European Union,” Trump said, adding that US NATO spending “helps them a lot more than it helps us.”
By all accounts, Trump is heading into this NATO summit prepared to take leaders to task for not spending enough on defense.
It’s an issue he’s focused on since he was a candidate. He tweeted this yesterday as he made his way to Brussels for the summit:
An important note: Trump has described allies as failing to pay their dues and owing back payments to NATO, when in reality the shortfalls come in the nations’ own annual defense spending. No country is behind in payments to NATO.
In letters to NATO members sent last month, Trump has reinforced his demands. He wrote to German Chancellor Angela Merkel that “we need to find a way to overcome domestic hurdles in the interest of our collective security” and described his own political exposure in the matter: “I understand domestic political pressures against greater government expenditures as I also expended considerable political capital to increase America’s defense spending.”
Here’s more about those letter Trump sent:
President Trump is meeting with NATO leaders in Brussels today and tomorrow.
So what exactly does the organization do?
Established in 1949, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s charter says the signing parties will “seek to promote stability and well-being in the North Atlantic area” and will “unite their efforts for collective defense and for the preservation of peace and security.” There are currently 29 NATO members. The group’s headquarters is in Brussels, where leaders from the member states will gather on July 11 and 12 for a summit.
Here’s how it’s funded:
NATO is underpinned by the principle of collective defense, meaning members are expected to keep their own militaries in fighting shape in case they are called on to defend an ally.?In pursuit of that goal, members are expected to spend a certain amount for their own defense budgets. In 2006, NATO set an official target for members to spend on defense: 2% of their gross domestic product. That figure was reaffirmed during a summit in 2014. But the target is described only as a “guideline,” and there is no penalty for not meeting it.
Member states also pay into NATO to cover common civilian and military costs, and no nation is behind on those payments. Instead, it is the defense spending issue that has caused the most contention between Trump and other members.
