NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg warned the EU today, saying it cannot defend the EU without the US. Jens Stoltenberg said this in the wake of Donald Trump’s statement.
“THE European Union cannot defend Europe, 80% of NATO’s defense spending comes from its allies NATO outside the EU,” said Stoltenberg in an interview with Reuters.
He assessed that it is clear that the security of Europe does not only depend on Europe itself but also on other NATO members such as the USA, Canada, Turkey, Norway and Iceland.
“If you just look at the map, it’s obvious that all these countries, allies outside the EU, are vital to the protection of Europe,” stressed the g.g. of the North Atlantic Alliance.
He added that “any attempt to disconnect Europe from North America will also divide Europe.” Many European states, particularly in Eastern Europe, see the US as the primary guarantor of security and would oppose any move to change that.
Trump drew sharp criticism from Western leaders following he said the US would not defend its NATO allies who do not spend enough on defence, with the tycoon even going so far as to encourage Russia to attack them. US allied countries.
“Trump’s statement should wake us up”
Many European politicians said Trump’s stance was a wake-up call, noting that this should act as an incentive for Europe to do more to be able to defend itself.
Stoltenberg said European NATO members needed to do more to develop defense capabilities and were doing so. But he said this must happen in a transatlantic context.
Earlier today, he said European allies would invest $380 billion in defense this year, raising spending to regarding 2 percent of total GDP in 2024, compared with 1.85 percent in 2023.
Specifically, he stated at a press conference in Brussels that 18 of the 31 NATO member countries will achieve the goal of 2% of their Gross Domestic Product for defense spending in 2024.
“I expect 18 allies to spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense this year,” he said, adding that total military spending is set to record another record year this year as Russia’s war once morest Ukraine enters its third year. An “unprecedented” 11 percent increase in defense spending by NATO countries was recorded last year, it said.
In his interview with Reuters, the NATO chief also called on the US House of Representatives to approve a “vital” billion-dollar military aid package for Ukraine, telling US lawmakers that China would be emboldened if Russia won the war once morest it. Ukrainian.
“I am counting on the House of Representatives to agree to support Ukraine, because this is not charity. This is an investment in our own security,” he said.
Stoltenberg stressed that Europe and Canada are also stepping up aid to Ukraine, noting that their combined economic and military aid to Kiev is greater than that provided by the US.
However, he said, US financial assistance “remains vital”.
“If President Putin wins in Ukraine, it will send a message to him and other authoritarian leaders that they get what they want by using military force. It will make the world more dangerous (and) us more vulnerable,” he added.
“Today it’s Ukraine, tomorrow it might be Taiwan. So Beijing and China are closely monitoring what is happening in Ukraine.”
Yesterday, according to newsit, the Democratic-majority US Senate approved a $95.34 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, amid growing doubts regarding the bill’s fate in the of the Republican House of Representatives.
Approval by the House is also needed before Democratic President Joe Biden can sign it into law.
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