NATO: Trump Claims that Russia can Take Any Action it Wants Against Non-Paying Members

Paresh Jadhav

9 months ago

NATO has long complained that members do not devote enough to defense spending, yet the alliance does not issue bills or require members to pay any specified amounts.

At a campaign rally, Trump claimed he told NATO Chief Jens Stoltenberg that he encouraged Russia to attack any member who fails to meet spending goals, placing soldiers’ lives at risk. NATO warned against such remarks from the GOP presidential nominee.

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The U.S. Is the Only Allied Power

Washington’s traditionalist foreign policy establishment and European capitals are sounding alarm bells after Donald Trump indicated at a campaign rally Saturday that as president he would give Russia carte blanche against NATO allies who fail to meet defence spending targets. At that event, he claimed he told a NATO leader that as president, he would encourage Russia to do what it wanted against those not meeting these spending goals.

Comments like these could exacerbate doubts among allies about US dependability, especially given that efforts to send Kyiv more military aid have stalled due to far-right opposition in Congress. They also highlight the dangers posed by having a president who lacks an understanding of transatlantic alliance workings or value America’s long-standing commitment to global security.

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg denied President Donald Trump’s accusations of Russia involvement in attacks against Ukraine. NATO member states have pledged to spend 2% of their GDP on defence by 2024; 11 (including the US) have reached their commitment so far.

The U.S. Is the Only Allied Power With a Large Military

In an unstable global order with shifting interests and power relationships, the U.S. remains unique as an ally capable of matching Russia in conventional military strength – making its support indispensable to those that rely on its forces for security purposes.

As World War II began in Europe in September 1939, President Franklin Roosevelt made it clear to American citizens that they could not remain neutral under law; similarly, he could not prevent America from providing material support through Lend-Lease to nations fighting Nazi Germany through an innovative program known as Lend-Lease.

As Supreme Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, the president holds broad powers to influence defense policy. As part of his duties as SCCAF, he approves defense doctrine, selects and removes top commanders of the military units, confers higher ranks and awards and can declare national or regional states of emergency. If necessary, a referendum can also be called by him before declaring martial or emergency law and must be approved by both State Duma and Federation Council prior to taking effect.

The U.S. Is the Only Allied Power With a Large Military Budget

Following World War II, the United States formed formal treaty alliances with NATO and other allies across Asia and Europe to combat threats abroad and protect American interests and values while making America less appealing as an aggressor target. These formal alliances serve to safeguard America’s national interests while decreasing attractiveness as an attractive target for aggressors.

As opposed to this situation, Russia does not possess any allies and only ten federal subjects–either oblasts or republics–plus Moscow and St Petersburg as major jurisdictions, each with ceremonial functions but no military might. Leaders within these jurisdictions sought greater privileges in taxation and resource control as well as autonomy from central Russia on several issues.

As America draws to an end of its longest war, this presents an opportunity for introspection and strategic change. But President Obama and Congress should resist using it as an excuse to abandon the liberal international order for an aggressive strategy of dominance underpinned by frequent military interventions that would increase defense spending while creating risks for U.S. allies in terms of burden sharing arrangements.

The U.S. Is the Only Allied Power With a Large Military Budget With a Large Military

As such, the United States must contribute most of NATO’s capabilities in order to deter coercion and aggression from Russia and China – this does not represent freeriding off taxpayer dollars; rather it represents the necessary cost associated with America’s alliances and their contributions toward protecting Americans for over 70 years.

NATO depends heavily on contributions from members as a source of funding, particularly direct contributions by individual allies to finance budgets, programs and capabilities which cannot be carried by one member alone, such as its command structure or air defence capabilities. Allies collectively decide upon resource planning figures and governance mechanisms for these shared funds.

Obama and Trump both advanced the free-rider argument; however, both missed an essential point: Individual actors often choose not to contribute if others will shoulder its costs; hence the US must cease publicly criticizing its European allies over their defense spending decisions.