The new US President Donald Trump has demanded that NATO countries increase their military spending to 5% of gross domestic product, rejecting the previous threshold of 2%, News.bg reports.
During a press conference on Tuesday, Trump said that the current funding is insufficient and insisted that the alliance countries owe it to the United States for the protection provided.
"They can all afford it, but it should be five percent, not two percent," he categorically stated.
Trump's insistence once again raises the question of his skeptical attitude towards NATO. Just a month ago, he threatened to leave the alliance if member states did not increase their spending.
In response to the changing balance of global security, the 32 NATO countries decided to spend a minimum of 2% of GDP on defense by 2023. However, only 23 of those countries have met the requirement. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also insisted that the current amount was insufficient to deal with possible future conflicts, especially in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In addition to NATO issues, Trump has again stirred international controversy. He refused to rule out military action to acquire Greenland or the Panama Canal, saying that these territories are essential to US economic security.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has rejected any claims to Greenland, stating that the fate of the island belongs to its inhabitants. Panama also reacted sharply, citing historical and economic considerations.
Earlier, Trump also expressed the idea of Canada joining the United States, continuing to push for a new international architecture that aligns with his economic and national security vision.