Trump administration to cut its financial contribution to NATO

[Julian English]

Source: CNN

The Trump administration has moved to substantially cut its contribution to NATO's collective budget according to several US and NATO officials, a symbolic move that comes as many continue to question President Donald Trump's commitment to the transatlantic alliance as he prepares to attend a summit to mark its 70th anniversary in London next week.

Previously the US provided some 22% of NATO's direct funding, which covers the cost of maintaining the NATO headquarters, joint security investments and some combined military operations.

It's a largely symbolic move as NATO's direct budget is relatively small, at about $2.5 billion, and is separate from national defense budgets that NATO recommends should stand at 2% of GDP.

US defense officials tell CNN that the Trump administration sought to reduce its contribution to about 16%, bringing it in line with Germany's, which provides 14.8% despite the US having a larger economy.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/27/politics/trump-nato-contribution-nato/index.html

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Promiss made to Putin
Promises kept

[Lonestarblue]

1. Will we have an ally left by the time Trump leaves office?

He is systematically destroying the alliance that has kept Europe out of war since WWII. He is strengthening Putin and Russia by ceding power to them in the Middle East. Putin and MBS, both dictators who murder dissidents at will, seem to have a very cozy relationship, no doubt laughing at how easy Trump is to manipulate. All you have to do is dazzle him with shiny objects, and he’s putty in their hands.

[The Genealogist]

2. No doubt this is for Vlad

NATO is a check on Vlad's machinations, so of course his puppet in Washington is helping him destroy it.

[Perseus]

3. Yeap, this has been a Putin goal for a long time, and here is his puppet carrying out the work

A weak NATO is good for "Vladimir The Great" as he wants to be remembered, he doesn't understand that history will remember him as "Vladimir the Piece of Shit".

He should read the biography of "Peter the Great", with all his violence he was a true patriot of that country and Russia owes a lot to him for the culture that he brought, the cities he built, and the government he left behind. Putin, on the other hand, is leaving a legacy of corruption behind him which he wishes to implement throughout the World. To be great doesn't mean to be evil, he needs to read "Peter and Catherine the Greats" biographies, Vlad is going at it the wrong way.

[The Genealogist]

4. Whatever those rulers did, their country benefitted.

Vlad is in it for himself and his cronies.

[Martin Eden]

6. My first thought

How blatantly treasonous does Putin's puppet have to get before the R's turn against him?

Or does Vlad have his hooks in them as well?

[Vinca]

5. Is it time to study Russian yet?

[James48]

15. Da.

[regnaD kciN]

20. Not here...

...but people in Europe, particularly Eastern Europe, would be well-advised to do so.

What Putin really wants, at least as a first step, is to recapture the lands of the old Soviet empire, either by installing sympathetic and malleable leaders in those countries (think Hungary) or by outright sending the troops in (as he did with Crimea and could probably do with the Baltic states in a heartbeat). Weakening NATO and the EU is a key step in that agenda, and it's right on track.

No need for any sort of conflict with the U.S., as long as he's got his useful idiot in charge to go along with everything he does. As the old quip about diplomacy goes, Russia's interference in our elections is "war by other means"...and, so far, they've won.

[beachbumbob]

7. Trump making Putins wishlist come true

[keithbvadu2]

8. Putting money into Trump was the best investment Putin ever made

I am the very model of a stable genius president
Improvident, incompetent, and wildly overconfident
I'm getting rich destroying the American experiment
Beholden like a puppet to a hostile foreign government

[MineralMan]

9. It Is NOT the "Trump administration's" contribution.

It is the contribution of of the United States of America.

[GeorgeGist]

10. Who will he blame ...

when this blows up in our face?

[durablend]

11. Democrats, of course.

But you knew that, right?

[sakabatou]

12. And Vlad is dancing with joy

[pangaia]

13. While the Chinese gradually, and not so gradually, move into the soouth pacific,

africa and south america..


usa is done for..

[at140]

17. Yes, China is buying mines, land and factories all over..

especially in Africa. Thank you Walmart.

[pangaia]

18. They are also buying governments, influence, constructing infrastructure,

including unneeded goodies that can also be used for military purposes.

[at140]

19. What scares me is China economy is 10 times bigger than Russia

So when China decides to interfere in US elections, it will be 10 times bigger mischief than Russia could.

[dalton99a]

14. As instructed by his puppet master Putin.

[SunSeeker]

16. Stupid, treasonous orange menace.

Way to flip the bird to our allies on Thanksgiving!

[olddad65]

21. What Putin wants Putin gets.