Trump Is Perfectly Entitled To Make These Demands of Underspending NATO Nations.

Nato.

Expect to see a renewed focus on future spending plans

Joe BarnesBrussels CorrespondentMr Trump’s team have reportedly warned European officials that he will demand their countries boost defence spending to the equivalent of at least 5 per cent of GDP.

During his campaign for re-election, he threatened not to come to the aid of Nato member states attacked by Russia which do not meet spending targets set by the US-led military alliance.

Like most American leaders, he wants Europe to take more responsibility for defending itself, while Washington refocuses its energy and finances on tackling the mounting threat posed by China.

Even before his election victory in November, Nato’s European allies went about a process of what they’ve described as “Trump-proofing” the organisation for the next four years.

It involved convincing more countries to spend the equivalent of at least 2 per cent of GDP on defence – the current Nato target guideline only hit by 23 of the 31 allies – and share more of the burden of the support for Ukraine.

With defence spending only starting to meet the threshold more than a decade after it was set, Mr Trump will struggle to convince them to go further, even with renewed threats of an American military withdrawal from Europe. DT.