Trump later said that U.S. commitment to NATO ‘remains very strong.’
Associated Press are reporting that the NATO secretary-general has ordered an emergency session on Thursday amid demands made by President Trump for increased defense spending.
BREAKING: 2 officials at NATO summit say the alliance is in emergency session amid Trump demands for increased defense spending.
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 12, 2018
BREAKING: U.S. President Donald Trump says after emergency session of alliance that U.S. commitment to NATO 'remains very strong.'
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 12, 2018
BREAKING: Trump says he told allies he was 'extremely unhappy' with defense spending, claims 'substantially' upped commitment.
— The Associated Press (@AP) July 12, 2018
Trump has demanded that certain member states must immediately meet – and exceed- the 2% military spending target that was originally set for 2024.
Deborah Haynes, defence editor of The Times, has confirmed this account.
She states that Trump told NATO allies this morning that “unless the wealthiest economies (read Germany, France, Spain, Italy) hit the 2% GDP target by January “we (U.S.) are going to do our own thing.”
It’s understood that Trump specifically singled out Belgium and Germany’s military spending for criticism.
After Trump’s comments, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has postponed the summit program for the remainder of the day and called an emergency session.
This is what I am told @realDonaldTrump told @nato allies: “2% is a joke. 4% is what people should be spending. We are being played for fools. Every single US president has been pushing the point of extra spending since Reagan & they have all been played I am not going to be” 1/3
— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) July 12, 2018
I asked my source what the reaction was of the 28 other @nato heads of state and government, the source said: "Total stunned silence and then utter panic" 3/3
— Deborah Haynes (@haynesdeborah) July 12, 2018
Following this emergency session, Trump stated that the U.S’ commitment to NATO ‘remains very strong.” He has also claimed that the member states have now substantially’ upped their commitment.
This development has been in keeping with the tense environment that has prevailed during this week’s NATO summit in Belgium.
Trump has previously been critical of those countries that he believes aren’t spending enough money on the military and he also stated his belief that “Germany is totally controlled by Russia.”
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