The NATO summit in the Netherlands.
Haiyun Jang | Via Reuters
For NATO on Wednesday, issuing a joint statement on heavily propelled and previewed collective defense spending increases in NATO.
Allies are surrounded, cajoled and pressured to hike defensive spending from 2% to 5% of each member nation’s gross domestic product by 2035.
It is widely expected that 32 members of the bloc will light their hikes green on Wednesday – NATO ambassadors have already agreed in principle, but actions and deadlines may still slip.
The commitment to the US alliance is also focused. This has not drawn any weight when it comes to defensive contributions after longtime US President Donald Trump’s complaints about his Canadian and European allies.
When he crashed into the summit late Tuesday, Trump appeared to be questioning the central doctrine of NATO’s collective defense (Article 5) that stated that an attack on one member was all attacks.
“There are many definitions in Article 5. You know that, right?” Trump told Air Force 1 reporters. “But I’m committed to being their friends. You know, I’m committed to being friends with many of those leaders and helping them.”
Military Union Executive Director Mark Latte is trying to reassure allies that Washington will not abandon the bloc, speaking with the statement, “There is a full commitment to NATO by the US President and senior US leaders.”
“But that comes with hope. And we hope to eventually deal with this huge stimulant, meaning we’re not spending enough as Europeans and Canadians,” Latte said Tuesday.
“Time to be serious”
NATO members pledged in 2014 to spend 2% of their GDP on defense, but some countries, such as Canada and Spain, are struggling to meet that threshold.
Other member states, particularly the northern and eastern flanks of the bloc, and provinces close to enemy Russia, such as Poland and Estonia, far outweigh this target.
Spain, the lowest share of GDP in the alliance, has already stuck its head on the balustrade to put Trump’s rage, stating that a hike in spending to 5% of GDP is “irrational.”
Madrid also wants more flexibility in how and when defensive spending must be raised, as well as Belgium, which hosts NATO headquarters. Italy also expressed skepticism about the new target, saying it would reach 2% this year after openly questioning the alliance’s points last week.
NATO’s Latte said he was “not worried” that something like Spain would scappalize the summit’s purpose and his own diplomatic efforts to persuade members to accept higher spending.
“Of course, these are difficult decisions. Be honest about that. At the beginning of this year, seven or eight countries weren’t even a 2% target… but now they’re committed to doing that this year,” he told CNBC’s Steve Sedgwick at a press conference on Wednesday.
“But you’re right, the country has to find money. That’s not easy, these are political decisions, but at the same time, given the threat from Russia, there’s an absolute certainty with colleagues that there’s no alternative, given the international security situation.”
Other heads of state, foreigners and defense ministers told CNBC they hope that allies will line up.
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schuf was bullish on Wednesday, telling CNBC that NATO “dedicates unity today,” but other European leaders were unable to rule out the possibility of a lack of consensus on their ambitious spending targets.
Swedish Prime Minister Wolf Christerson added to CNBC on Tuesday, “We can’t rule out any kind of issues. I don’t think we can,” but added, “This is the time we don’t take a chance. This is the time to be serious about defense.”
“You can take this unity for granted. I say about this it is worth having a very strong NATO unity. [Wednesday’s] Conference,” he told CNBC about the summit bystanders.
Meanwhile, Estonian defense minister Hanno Pehulk said 32 members of NATO should find a compromise.
“I think the realistic outcome is that we’ll reach 5%. [20]35 And we have a competency target review [on resources] “Of course, the worst case scenario is not reaching consensus. But I believe this rate, or this chance, is very unlikely,” he said.
