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On Saturday morning, yet again, President Trump hopped on Twitter and made us all proud to be Americans.
The President, infuriated by the media’s coverage of his awkward — at best — meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, tweeted that Germany owes NATO “vast sums of money"
…vast sums of money to NATO & the United States must be paid more for the powerful, and very expensive, defense it provides to Germany!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 18, 2017
As usual, Trump got a few very important things wrong in his tweets, and an expert had to come in and correct him.
Ivo Daalder, the former United States ambassador to NATO, took to Twitter shortly after the President initially tweeted and gave him — and anyone who still believes that he knows what he’s talking about — a quick lesson in how NATO works.
First, Daalder explained that, unlike what Trump said about Germany in his tweets, other countries do not pay the U.S. to defend them.
1/ Sorry, Mr. President, that’s not how NATO works. The US decides for itself how much it contributes to defending NATO. pic.twitter.com/8svkzRBEQb— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
2/ This is not a financial transaction, where NATO countries pay the US to defend them. It is part of our treaty commitment.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
Dalder then went on to clarify how much all NATO countries are supposed to spend on defense by the year 2024.
3/ All NATO countries, including Germany, have committed to spend 2% of GDP on defense by 2024. So far 5 of 28 NATO countries do.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
While only 5 of the 28 NATO countries currently spend the agreed upon 2 percent, the rest of the organization’s members are working on increasing their defense budgets, which is a “good thing,” according to Daalder.
4/ Those who currently don’t spend 2% of their GDP on defense are now increasing their defense budgets. That’s a good thing.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
Daalder also clarified — again — that the money other countries are contributing does not go to the U.S., but to “increase NATO’s overall defense capabilities” in response to the “growing Russian threat.”
5/ But no funds will be paid to the US. They are meant to increase NATO’s overall defense capabilities, given the growing Russian threat.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
The former ambassador did concede that Europe as a whole should be spending more on defense; however, that increase in spending is for their own security, not to repay the U.S.
6/ Europe must spend more on defense, but not as favor (or payment) to the US. But because their security requires it.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
Europe must spend more on defense for their own security, and the U.S. currently spends what we do “for our own security,” Daalder explains.
7/ US does provide large military commitment to NATO. But this is not a favor to Europe. It is vital for our own security.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
Daalder added that it behooves the U.S. to keep Europe “whole, free, and at peace” and that everyone benefits from a “strong, united NATO.”
8/ We fought two world wars in Europe, and one cold war. Keeping Europe whole, free, and at peace, is vital US interest.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
9/ A strong, united NATO, in which all contribute their fair share to defense, will secure that peace for all Alliance members.— Ivo Daalder (@IvoHDaalder) March 18, 2017
President Trump has repeatedly decried NATO, calling it “obsolete” and complaining that the U.S. spends too much money being a part of it. Before he does something rash, though, like try to yank the U.S. out altogether, he should probably make sure that he knows how NATO works.
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