Trump administration to cut its financial contribution to NATO
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
Promiss made to Putin
Promises kept
Lonestarblue
(9,958 posts)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 hes putty in their hands.
The Genealogist
(4,723 posts)NATO is a check on Vlad's machinations, so of course his puppet in Washington is helping him destroy it.
Perseus
(4,341 posts)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
(4,723 posts)Vlad is in it for himself and his cronies.
Martin Eden
(12,843 posts)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
(50,236 posts)regnaD kciN
(26,044 posts)...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
(9,263 posts)keithbvadu2
(36,640 posts)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
(146,248 posts)It is the contribution of of the United States of America.
GeorgeGist
(25,311 posts)when this blows up in our face?
durablend
(7,455 posts)But you knew that, right?
sakabatou
(42,134 posts)pangaia
(24,324 posts)africa and south america..
usa is done for..
at140
(6,110 posts)especially in Africa. Thank you Walmart.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)including unneeded goodies that can also be used for military purposes.
at140
(6,110 posts)So when China decides to interfere in US elections, it will be 10 times bigger mischief than Russia could.
dalton99a
(81,386 posts)SunSeeker
(51,504 posts)Way to flip the bird to our allies on Thanksgiving!