WHAT DID TRUMP SAY ABOUT NATO FUNDING AND WHAT IS ARTICLE 5?
- Former US President Donald Trump's recent comments regarding NATO have drawn widespread criticism.
- His remarks suggest a departure from traditional NATO principles, raising questions about the alliance's future and its collective defence commitments.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
- NATO is a political and military alliance comprising countries from North America and Europe.
- Its cornerstone principle - principle of collective defence - is enshrined in Article 5 i.e. an attack on one member is considered an attack on all.
- It takes decisions by consensus, however, the United States holds significant influence within NATO due to its military strength.
Membership and Expansion
- NATO currently consists of 31 members, primarily European nations along with the United States and Canada.
- Recent additions include Finland which joined last April in reaction to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
- NATO was established in 1949 during the Cold War to counter the Soviet Union.
- After the 1989 fall of the Berlin Wall, it expanded to take in former communist bloc countries from Central and Eastern Europe.
Trump's NATO Criticism
- During his presidency, Trump frequently criticised NATO members, particularly Germany, for insufficient defence spending and reliance on US protection.
- His recent comments at a campaign rally suggest a willingness to abandon NATO's collective defence principle if members fail to meet their financial obligations.
NATO Funding and Defence Spending
- Contrary to Trump's portrayal, NATO operates on member contributions.
- While NATO has common funds, the bulk of its strength comes from members' national defence spending.
- To maintain forces and buy arms that can also be used by NATO.
- However, most members have not met the agreed-upon target of spending at least 2% of GDP on defence annually.
Article 5 and Trump's Comments
- Article 5 of NATO's founding treaty emphasises collective defence, but it lacks an automatic military response clause.
- In other words, the strength of Article 5 depends on clear statements from political leaders that it will be backed up by action.
- Trump's comments undermine the alliance's credibility and cohesion, particularly amid heightened tensions with Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.