Donald Trump has made Nato stronger by forcing European member states to spend more on defence, Grant Shapps said on Thursday, amid growing fears over America’s commitment to the alliance.
The Defence Secretary said the former president’s concerns over defence spending had been addressed because “countries are stepping up and doing the right thing now”.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Nato secretary general, warned that European Union investment would not be able to replace the United States’ contribution to the Western military alliance.
A suggestion by Mr Trump that he would withdraw protection from Nato allies who failed to spend two per cent of gross domestic product on defence dominated a two-day meeting of the alliance in Brussels this week.
As defence ministers met in the Belgian capital, Mr Trump doubled down on his threat.
Speaking at a rally in South Carolina late on Wednesday, he said: “I’ve been saying, ‘Look, if they’re not going to pay, we’re not going to protect, OK?’
“One of the heads of the countries said, ‘Does that mean that if we don’t pay the bills, that you’re not going to protect us?’ That’s exactly what it means. I’m not going to protect you,” he added.
In response, 18 of Nato’s 31 member states announced plans to hit the target, which was set a decade ago.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
