NATO Chief Credits Trump For Boosting Defense Spending

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has credited former President Donald Trump for spurring a significant increase in defense spending across the alliance, a point he emphasized during a recent interview on MSNBC. Rutte’s comments came as speculation grows over how NATO will prepare for the possibility of Trump’s return to the White House in 2024.

During the segment, MSNBC host Jonathan Lemire alluded to Trump’s history of clashing with NATO, prompting Rutte to offer a defense of the former president’s impact on the alliance.

“He was right in 2018 when he said that we had to spend more,” Rutte said. “It is thanks to Donald Trump that NATO, if we could exclude for a second the U.S., is now at the 2% which was agreed in 2014.”

Trump’s Influence On NATO Spending

• The 2% Target: NATO allies agreed in 2014 to allocate 2% of their GDP to defense spending, but little progress was made until Trump’s presidency.

• Massive Increases Since 2016: Under Trump’s pressure, European NATO members significantly boosted their contributions, reversing years of underfunding. Rutte acknowledged that these increases were largely attributable to Trump’s leadership.

• A New Baseline: Rutte stressed that 2% should now be viewed as a minimum threshold, urging allies to aim higher to maintain a credible deterrent against Russia and other threats.

Rutte’s sentiment was echoed by U.K. Foreign Minister David Lammy, who attended a NATO meeting in Brussels this week. Lammy highlighted the U.K.’s defense budget as an example of surpassing the 2% target.

“We’re going to 2.5%, but [Trump] is right to challenge the alliance to come together and get beyond that,” Lammy said.

Both leaders noted that NATO’s current spending goals were set during less demanding times, underscoring the need for even greater commitments amid growing security threats, particularly from Russia.

Despite Trump’s often contentious relationship with NATO during his first term, Rutte’s remarks highlight a shift in how some leaders view his impact on the alliance. Trump’s demands for fairer burden-sharing, once criticized, are now credited with strengthening NATO’s capabilities.

Rutte’s acknowledgment stands in stark contrast to previous criticisms that Trump was undermining the alliance. Instead, his approach is now seen as a pivotal moment in NATO’s evolution.

As Trump gears up for the 2024 election, his foreign policy record continues to be scrutinized. These recent endorsements from NATO’s top officials suggest his legacy within the alliance may be more constructive than many initially believed.

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