NATO's 2%

From MSN:

“Map shows which Nato countries fail to reach 2% minimum spending budget”

New figures released by Nato have shown a staggering difference in which member states are paying their agreed percentage on defence.

Under the terms of the alliance, all Nato members are required to spend 2% of their GBP on defence yearly. However, statistics have shown the only countries managing to hit their defence spending minimum are primarily along the Russia-Ukraine border. Two founding states – France and Germany – both missed the mark at 1.9% and 1.57%, despite being economic leaders in the alliance. Germany did point out they are on track to meet the 2% target this year, and they remain Ukraine’s second largest weapons donor. Luxembourg and Iceland are the only two Nato countries not included on this list – due to Luxembourg’s small size and Iceland’s lack of military, despite being a founding Nato member.

Which countries missed the mark?

France (1.9 %)

Montenegro (1.87 %)

North Macedonia (1.87 %)

Bulgaria (1.84 %)

Croatia (1.79 %)

Albania (1.76 %)

Netherlands (1.7 %)

Norway (1.67 %)

Denmark (1.65 %)

Germany (1.57 %)

Czech Republic (1.5 %)

Portugal (1.48 %)

Italy (1.46 %)

Canada (1.38 %)

Slovenia (1.35 %)

Turkey (1.31 %)

Spain (1.26 %)

Belgium (1.26 %)

 

Which countries hit the 2% defence spending target?

Poland (3.9 %)

US (3.49 %)

Greece (3.01 %)

Estonia (2.73 %)

Lithuania (2.54 %)

Finland (2.45 %)

Romania (2.44 %)

Hungary (2.43 %)

Latvia (2.27 %)

United Kingdom (2.07 %)

Slovakia (2.03 %)

The statistics have come to light days after Former US President Donald Trump suggested he wouldn’t respond to Russian attacks on weaker Nato members who don’t meet their financial obligations. Trump’s remarks caused deep concern in Poland, a country in central Europe that has been under Russian control more often than not since the end of the 18th century. Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said ‘no election campaign is an excuse for playing with the security of the alliance’. In response to Trump’s remarks, Nato secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg said that the 31 allies are committed to defending each other. He said: ‘Nato remains ready and able to defend all allies. Any attack on Nato will be met with a united and forceful response.’

The majority of countries meeting the 2% target are bordering Russia or Ukraine, the map reveals. The increased threat of Russian aggression in recent years may contribute to the increased defence spending of countries nearer to the conflict. Nato, or the ‘North Atlantic Treaty Organization’, is an alliance of different governments around the world, including the United Kingdom.

It was established in the aftermath of the Second World War to safeguard the collective security of what will soon be 32 member states. This was highlighted on Wednesday when three Nato planes were scrambled after Russian missiles appeared to be overshooting Ukraine and heading towards Poland. That means that if any one member of Nato is attacked by a foreign power – for instance, if the UK were to be attacked by Russia – the other members would be obliged under the terms of the alliance to respond militarily to that threat.

^ No American Politician, Former President or Presidential Candidate (like Trump) should ever make dangerous statements like saying Russia can invade a NATO Country that doesn’t pay its bills.

Of course every NATO Country should pay the amount that was agreed upon and NATO should take the steps internally to make them. ^

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/map-shows-which-nato-countries-fail-to-reach-2-minimum-spending-budget/ar-BB1icCc7?ocid=msedgntp&pc=HCTS&cvid=37b1256b701040a29506dcc10945d4c9&ei=17#image=BB1icFxq|1