Donald Trump’s campaign team is reportedly considering setting a defense spending target of 3% of GDP for NATO members.
According to Bloomberg, unnamed sources have revealed that advisors for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump have suggested raising the defense spending target for NATO members to 3% of GDP. Many members of the US-led bloc have only recently struggled to meet the current 2% goal.
The idea of urging NATO members to contribute more was discussed at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee last week, Bloomberg reported, citing individuals familiar with the conversations.
Sources have informed the outlet that the potential new target is currently just a suggestion and has not been officially approved by the Trump team. However, discussions about a new spending target could potentially create further tension if Trump is reelected as US president in November, as some NATO allies are already facing challenges in managing government debt.
Trump has consistently criticized members of the bloc for not allocating sufficient funds to their militaries, with some falling short of a 2014 commitment to contribute 2% of GDP to defense.
Last year’s NATO estimates indicated that 11 out of the bloc’s 32 nations met the 2% goal, while only Poland, the US, and Greece were projected to have spent 3% or more of their GDP on defense.
Earlier this year, Trump faced backlash from the White House and top Western officials after suggesting he would not defend NATO countries that failed to allocate enough to defense, even hinting at encouraging Russia to attack them. Russian officials, including President Vladimir Putin, have repeatedly asserted that Moscow has no intention of attacking any NATO country.
The potential spending demand would align Trump with Polish President Andrzej Duda, who earlier this year called for NATO to set a 3% target. Trump reaffirmed his stance in early July, suggesting at a rally in Florida that he wouldn’t fulfill alliance commitments to mutual defense unless countries meet NATO spending targets.
The recent discussion about a defense spending increase is potentially a negotiating tactic aimed at pressuring NATO allies to avoid complacency, Bloomberg wrote, citing an individual familiar with Trump’s position. Another source quoted by the outlet confirmed that the higher target had been discussed in Milwaukee, but there was some debate about whether it would be a wise move as it might undermine unity within the bloc.