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Trump Demands NATO Members Increase Defense Spending to 5% of GDP, May Settle for 3.5% or 3% at June Summit, Will Continue Aid to Ukraine

Dec 20, 2024, 05:00 PM

Donald Trump's team has informed European officials that the incoming US president will demand that NATO member states increase their defense spending to 5% of GDP. This demand comes with the assurance that Trump plans to continue supplying military aid to Ukraine. Currently, the NATO target is 2% of GDP, which only 23 out of 32 member countries meet. Trump's proposal to more than double this target reflects a significant shift in policy, although sources suggest he might settle for a 3.5% or even a 3% target at NATO's June summit. This policy shift is part of Trump's broader strategy towards Europe and Russia's invasion of Ukraine, aiming to link higher defense spending with more favorable trading terms with the US.