NATO commits to collective defense

Reuters :

NATO leaders on Wednesday backed the big increase in defence spending that US President Donald Trump had demanded, and restated their commitment to defend each other from attack.
While Trump got what he wanted at the brief summit, tailor-made for him, his NATO allies will be relieved that he committed to the fundamental principle of collective defence after less clear-cut language on Tuesday.

In a five-point statement, NATO endorsed a higher defence spending goal of 5% of GDP by 2035 – a response not only to Trump but also to Europeans’ fears that Russia poses a growing threat to their security following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The 32 allies’ brief communique added: “We reaffirm our ironclad commitment to collective defence as enshrined in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty – that an attack on one is an attack on all.”

Asked to clarify his own stance on Article 5, Trump said: “I stand with it. That’s why I’m here. If I didn’t stand with it, I wouldn’t be here.”

MACRON BRINGS UP TRADE WAR AT NATO SUMMIT
Trump had long demanded in no uncertain terms that for other countries step up their spending on defence to reduce NATO’s heavy reliance on the US.

Despite an appearance of general agreement, French President Emmanuel Macron raised the issue of the steep import tariffs threatened by Trump, and the damage they may do to transatlantic trade, as a barrier to increased defence spending.

“You cannot come to us as allies and ask that we spend more, tell us we will spend more at NATO – and do a trade war. It’s an aberration,” he told reporters.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who hosted the summit in his home city of The Hague, said NATO would emerge as a ‘stronger, fairer and more lethal’ alliance.

He had earlier acknowledged that it was not easy for European countries and Canada to find the extra money, but said it was vital to do so.