UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer supports Donald Trump's calls for increased NATO defense spending from European allies.
Sir Keir Starmer has expressed support for Donald Trump 's calls for NATO countries to fulfill their defense spending commitments. Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari, Starmer agreed with Trump's assertion that 'Europe needs to do more' regarding military expenditure. Trump, who will return to the White House in January, has repeatedly urged US European allies to increase their defense spending , arguing that it's unfair for Washington to bear a disproportionate burden.
Starmer stated that he has engaged in 'constructive discussions' with Trump on various matters, including military spending. He acknowledged that Europe should contribute more, but emphasized the importance of collective action within NATO. While NATO members are obligated to allocate at least 2% of their GDP to defense, several countries fall short of this target, including Portugal, Italy, Canada, Belgium, Luxembourg, Slovenia, and Spain. The UK ranks ninth among contributors in terms of GDP allocation, while Poland leads with 4.1%, followed by the US at approximately 3.4%. In absolute terms, the US and Germany are the biggest contributors to NATO's budget, providing about 16% of the total. When questioned about whether all members should 'pay their way,' Starmer declined to dictate specific actions to allies during the interview
NATO Defense Spending Donald Trump Sir Keir Starmer European Union
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