Trump still doesn't understand the 2% GDP defense pledge re: NATO

[K1052]

They don't owe us money you boob.

Such a good brain with the best words.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

That depends if we were filling the funding gap.
Trump is right on this issue, he's just a hammer and can only hit so he's handling it wrong.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

Well that explains his being a pouting child and not shaking Merkle's hand. He might have been afraid she'd kick his butt with his "Stance of Dominance" nonsense.

 

[K1052]

That depends if we were filling the funding gap.
Trump is right on this issue, he's just a hammer and can only hit so he's handling it wrong.

AFAIK no country has shirked their direct NATO funding responsibilities. The money in question is the pledge to devote a minimum 2% of GDP to defense in each respective member country. I don't argue the point that many member states should be spending more on their own defense. I'm just bemused that Trump, still, seems to have no actual grasp of how any of this works since he thinks Germans owe us or NATO money somehow.

 

[kage69]

And I thought it was painful watching Dubya fumble his way around foreign leaders, damn.

I get the impression Merkel would give a lot to have Obama back right now (like most of the country!) and is wary of receiving another impromptu back rub, this time from a deviant sexist with creepy small hands.

Germany, please bear with us, it's not going to be like this for long.

 

[Genx87]

% GDP of military spending for the bigger NATO countries

Germany - 1.2%
Italy - 1.3%
UK - 2.0%
Turkey - 2.1%
Spain - 1.2%
Poland - 2%
Canada - 1%

Trump has a very valid point regardless of the silly idea to insinuate billing Germany for defense. Germany, the largest economy in central Europe has an unprepared army and relies on U.S. taxpayers to subsidize their defense.

 

[UglyCasanova]

They don't owe us money you boob.

Such a good brain with the best words.

The US doesn't have to be reimbursed but it is one of the options. I would think it's far cheaper to simply pay us for additional units rather than trying to develop ones own weapon systems. Engaging in joint R&D is another option?

 

[Flapdrol1337]

The US doesn't have to be reimbursed but it is one of the options. I would think it's far cheaper to simply pay us for additional units rather than trying to develop ones own weapon systems. Engaging in joint R&D is another option?

Since the target is 2% gdp spending it's always cheaper to spend it at home since you'll get some of that back in taxes.

 

[UglyCasanova]

Since the target is 2% gdp spending it's always cheaper to spend it at home since you'll get some of that back in taxes.

Yeah I agree cheaper really isnt the word I should have used. Efficient or effective.

 

[brycejones]

Trump only uses the best words. He has a really good brain. The best brain. People are talking about the words he uses and how he has the best brain.

 

[pauldun170]

% GDP of military spending for the bigger NATO countries

Germany - 1.2%
Italy - 1.3%
UK - 2.0%
Turkey - 2.1%
Spain - 1.2%
Poland - 2%
Canada - 1%

Trump has a very valid point regardless of the silly idea to insinuate billing Germany for defense. Germany, the largest economy in central Europe has an unprepared army and relies on U.S. taxpayers to subsidize their defense.

I'll go into more detail later (if I get the chance to explain but I'm going to start off with a bit of fact checking

Germany up to 2015
http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/MS.MIL.XPND.GD.ZS?locations=DE

Germany 2016

Merkel cited pressure from US president Barack Obama.

http://www.dw.com/en/merkel-germany-to-heavily-increase-bundeswehr-budget/a-36054268
http://www.defensenews.com/story/de...ending-hike-reflects-regional-trend/82204164/


https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/yea...nsive-armed-forces-in-2016/ss-AAlxwwp#image=2
slideshow offers more info

Poland

During the 2008 global financial crisis, Poland’s military spending dipped to 1.7 percent of GDP, but following Russia’s incursion into Ukraine in 2014, it rapidly rebounded to a respectable 2.2 percent of GDP in 2015.

http://nationalinterest.org/feature/poland-takes-its-military-might-seriously-18580


http://money.cnn.com/2016/04/15/news/nato-spending-countries/

http://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/pdf_2016_07/20160704_160704-pr2016-116.pdf

 

[jman19]

% GDP of military spending for the bigger NATO countries

Germany - 1.2%
Italy - 1.3%
UK - 2.0%
Turkey - 2.1%
Spain - 1.2%
Poland - 2%
Canada - 1%

Trump has a very valid point regardless of the silly idea to insinuate billing Germany for defense. Germany, the largest economy in central Europe has an unprepared army and relies on U.S. taxpayers to subsidize their defense.

I agree that the other countries should hold up their end of the bargain. It's a shame Trump had to make an ass out of himself and embarrass the country again in making this point though.

 

[pauldun170]

NATO members should increase spending but they should buy all their shit from France and other European countries just to spite Trump.
They should also revisit the scope of NATO's role.

 

[Jhhnn]

Russia is totally outgunned by our European allies w/o our help & w/o increased military spending. Their strength lies in NATO solidarity which Trump attempts to undermine every chance he gets.

Oh, and more military spending is just another way of saying buy more American military hardware. If they won't then Trump's extra $54B in military spending will help keep the MIC flush, anyway.

 

[PottedMeat]

we should cut germany loose and bill them for 60+ years of protection. we can confiscate their foreign assets as partial payment and a large portion of their industrial output for several years for the rest or even more as tribute. they will be completely happy to do this and i'm confident there will be no consequences for us.

 

[ivwshane]

we should cut germany loose and bill them for 60+ years of protection. we can confiscate their foreign assets as partial payment and a large portion of their industrial output for several years for the rest or even more as tribute. they will be completely happy to do this and i'm confident there will be no consequences for us.

Sarcasm doesn't work too well on the internet, especially without the sarcasm tag.

 

[Victorian Gray]

we should cut germany loose and bill them for 60+ years of protection. we can confiscate their foreign assets as partial payment and a large portion of their industrial output for several years for the rest or even more as tribute. they will be completely happy to do this and i'm confident there will be no consequences for us.

Maybe have a big meeting somewhere in France to finalize it.

 

[WelshBloke]

Sarcasm doesn't work too well on the internet, especially without the sarcasm tag.

I've always been fine with sarcasm on the internet.

 

[Thebobo]

we should cut germany loose and bill them for 60+ years of protection. we can confiscate their foreign assets as partial payment and a large portion of their industrial output for several years for the rest or even more as tribute. they will be completely happy to do this and i'm confident there will be no consequences for us.

Fuck that let's just invade Germany. Dont they have some muslims there?

 

[Jhhnn]

Fuck that let's just invade Germany. Dont they have some muslims there?

No need. We're still there from the last time we invaded. Japan, too.

 

[Herr Kutz]

It appears many european countries do not understand it either. If they did, we wouldn't be having this conversation. If NATO means so much to them, why is the contribution so small?

 

[Paul98]

He gets his information from cable "news" and from fake news websites, i'm not sure what we expect

 

[Jhhnn]

It appears many european countries do not understand it either. If they did, we wouldn't be having this conversation. If NATO means so much to them, why is the contribution so small?

They understand it just fine. Unlike the US, they don't fill the role of the world's policeman like we do. Their part of it is to be ready to defend themselves against Russia should need be. They're entirely capable in that regard. It wouldn't take much from us to tip the balance strongly to NATO should something stupid happen, which none of them want.

Taking on former Warsaw pact members as members of NATO both increases NATO strength & denies those resources to Russia.

 

[MrSquished]

I think I read somewhere they have until 2024 to get to the 2% level of spending.

 

[Fanatical Meat]

I think I read somewhere they have until 2024 to get to the 2% level of spending.

That's a pretty reasonable goal too. Again Trump handles it like a moron but he does bring up a valid point that's been spoken about since for as long as I can remember.