NATO member states are "in arrears", will the United States protect them? TRUMP: I would encourage Russia to do whatever it wants......It's a shocking headline and the remark made by former U.S. Trump at a campaign rally in South Carolina. He said that if he is re-elected**, he will not fulfill the collective defense obligations of the United States in NATO, but will let Russia "do whatever it wants" to allies who have not paid enough for defense. The remarks sparked backlash from the White House and NATO, and cast doubt on the world's trust and leadership in the United States.
What is NATO? NATO, short for North Atlantic Treaty Organization, is a military alliance of 29 North American and European countries established in 1949 to maintain security and stability in the West. NATO's core principle is collective defense, that is, an attack on one member is considered an attack on all, and the other member states are obliged to provide assistance. NATO existed to defend against the threat of the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, and was an important pillar of the Cold War. Since the end of the Cold War, NATO has expanded its membership and participated in a number of international peacekeeping and counter-terrorism operations, such as Afghanistan, Libya and Iraq.
What is the matter with the "arrears" of NATO member states? NATO member states "owe money" not because they don't pay NATO's budget on time, but because they don't meet NATO's defense spending targets. NATO's policy is that each member state should gradually increase defense spending to the equivalent of 2% of its gross domestic product (GDP) in order to strengthen NATO's military capabilities and cohesion. However, at present, many Member States have not yet met this standard, and some are even far below it. Germany, for example, spends only 1 percent of GDP on defense36%, and France's defense spending accounts for 184%, Canada's defense spending accounts for 1. % of GDP31%。By comparison, the U.S. spends 3 percent of GDP on defense42%, the highest in NATO and nearly 70% of NATO's total spending.
Why is Trump unhappy with NATO? Trump is an "America First" politician who believes that the United States is giving too much in NATO, while other member states are not doing their part, causing American interests to be harmed. He has repeatedly complained about the inadequacy of defense spending by other NATO countries and threatened to withdraw the United States from NATO, or at least reduce its contribution to NATO. He also expressed doubts about the existence and role of NATO, believing that NATO is outdated and no longer serves the interests of the United States. He even once refused to publicly promise that the United States would fulfill its collective defense obligations if a NATO ally was attacked. His words and deeds have caused unease and concern among NATO allies, as well as NATO's enemies such as Russia.
What are the implications of Trump's rhetoric? Trump's remarks are undoubtedly a provocation and sabotage to NATO, as well as a damage to the credibility and leadership of the United States. If Trump is re-elected** and does carry out his threats, then NATO will be in danger of disintegration, and the United States will lose its most important ally and influence in Europe. This will provide an opportunity for countries such as Russia to take advantage of the situation, which could lead to a serious threat to Europe's security and stability. Trump's rhetoric has also cast doubt on the credibility and commitment of the United States, which could affect American cooperation and leadership in other regions and issues. Trump's remarks also sparked strong opposition from the White House and NATO, who said that the United States remains a staunch ally of NATO, will continue to fulfill its obligations and responsibilities in NATO, and will continue to support NATO's presence and role.
Are Trump's rhetoric reasonable? Trump's remarks are clearly unreasonable and irresponsible. First, Trump has some misconceptions about how NATO works, arguing that NATO is an organization where the United States pays for other countries, ignoring the benefits and value that NATO brings to the United States. In fact, NATO is not only a military alliance, but also a political alliance that upholds the common interests and values of the United States and Europe, and also provides a platform for the United States to demonstrate its leadership and influence in Europe and beyond. NATO is also an important partner of the United States in responding to global challenges and threats, such as terrorism, nuclear proliferation, and cybersecurity. NATO is also an important support for the United States in competition and confrontation with countries such as Russia, such as Ukraine, Syria, Iran, etc. Second, there is some exaggeration and distortion of defense spending by Trump about NATO members, arguing that the United States is bearing an unfair burden in NATO, while other countries are not doing their part.
In fact, NATO members' defense spending is not a charity of the United States, but countries pay for their own defense. Although the United States spends more on defense than other countries, this is not entirely for NATO, but for the interests and strategy of the United States itself. Only a small portion of U.S. defense spending is spent on troops and bases in Europe, which also provide the United States with an easy way to deploy and operate in Europe and elsewhere. In addition, the defense spending of NATO member countries is not static, but adjusts as the situation changes. At Trump's behest, NATO members have increased defense spending and also pledged to reach the 2% target by 2024.
Finally, Trump has some contempt and denial of the existence and role of NATO, which he believes is obsolete and no longer in the interests of the United States. In fact, NATO remains a useful and necessary organization that provides the United States and Europe with an effective and flexible tool to respond to the complex and changing challenges and threats of today's world. NATO is also a dynamic and adaptable organization that is constantly reforming and innovating to meet new security needs and circumstances. NATO is also a cohesive and cohesive organization that embodies the deep historical, cultural, and value ties between the United States and Europe, and is America's most important ally and partner in Europe.
To sum up, Trump's remarks are an irresponsible attack on NATO and a kind of self-harm to the United States. His remarks are not only unsubstantiated but also unreasonable, and will only undermine NATO's confidence and cohesion, as well as damage the credibility and leadership of the United States. His remarks will also bring unease and danger to the world, which may lead to serious threats to Europe's security and stability, and will also affect US cooperation and leadership in other regions and issues. His remarks can also cast doubt on his rivals and voters about his abilities and judgment, potentially affecting his chances of being re-elected. Therefore, we should remain vigilant and critical of Trump's remarks, and we should also support the existence and role of NATO, as well as the responsibility and leadership of the United States in NATO.