UP

Trump slams Germany for being slow on defense

Home page World
12 Punto 14 Punto 16 Punto 18 Punto

Some NATO member-states, including Germany, are far from being on track to meet the alliance's 2 percent of GDP target.

Axar.az informs citing Sputnik.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday again criticized German defense spending, warning that NATO members that fail to meet their commitments to the alliance would be "dealt with."

“[Germany] has not contributed what it should be contributing and it's a very big beneficiary," Trump said when meeting with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.

He added that Germany “must demonstrate leadership in the alliance by addressing its longstanding shortfall in defense contributions.”

Donald Trump praised seven other alliance members for paying the amount "they're supposed to be paying."

Apart from the United States, only Poland, Romania, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Greece, and the United Kingdom meet the target.
In 2014, NATO agreed that all 29 members would spend at least 2 percent of GDP on defense by 2024.

Last year, Germany spent 1.2 percent of GDP on defense and this year’s budget envisions 1.3 percent of the country’s GDP going to the military.

Even though Chancellor Angela Merkel agrees with the need to bring the country’s outlays on defense to the required 2 percent of GDP, her coalition partner, the Social Democrats, come out against any defense spending hikes.

Germany has for years struggled to modernize its military as it becomes more involved in NATO operations. Its military faces numerous problems that have raised serious questions about its capabilities and readiness.

Funding issues have been highly embarrassing. In 2014, it was revealed that tank commanders had covered up their lack of machine guns by using broomsticks painted black during a NATO drill.

Date
2018.05.18 / 15:15
Author
Axar.az
See also

France's Macron makes state visit to the UK

Trump threatens extra tariff on nations siding with BRICS

Switzerland pledges $6.3B to rebuild Ukraine

The US arms review covers all countries

5-magnitude earthquake hits Turkiye

Iran denies supporting plot against Trump

Macron hints at possible 2032 presidential run

Forest fire erupts in Turkiye

Fidan and Lavrov meet at the BRICS summit in Brazil

Starovoit died before his official dismissal - CNN

Latest
Xocalı soyqırımı — 1992-ci il Bağla
Bize yazin Bağla
ArxivBağla