Trump's potential absence looms over NATO demand dispute
President Donald Trump may not attend the June North Atlantic Treaty Organization summit in The Hague if member states do not increase their defence spending, claims U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker.
What do you need to know?
- U.S. ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker threatens President Donald Trump's absence from the NATO summit in The Hague.
- According to him, this might happen if member states "do not take action" on financial issues.
- This information is reported by the German weekly "Der Spiegel" on Friday.
In confidential reports from the headquarters in Brussels, it is stated that Whitaker at every opportunity demands an increase in defence spending from two to five per cent of GDP. The editorial notes that for Germany, this would mean increasing expenditures to 229 billion dollars (317 billion CAD).
Did Germany not take the demands seriously? "Now they take him at his word"
"Der Spiegel" points out that until recently, Germany considered these demands as part of U.S. negotiation strategy and did not take them seriously.
"Currently, Germany takes Whitaker at his word. Also, when he threatens that Donald Trump will not participate in the June summit if other NATO countries do not take financial action," the German weekly's portal reads.
The defence ministry's budget for the current year amounts to 57 billion dollars (79 billion CAD). This sum is supplemented by funds from the special fund created in 2022 for the Bundeswehr, totalling 107 billion dollars (148 billion CAD).
