NATO: Rutte says military spending in Italy, Spain, Belgium and Canada has risen, partly due to pressure from Trump

We have ways of persuading those who are reluctant

“The US is strongly encouraging – and I use the term ‘encouraging’ even though it is probably a bit of a weak term – its allies to increase their defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP. The increase in defence spending has been driven by Russia and the war in Ukraine, but is also partly due to pressure from the United States; this is a great help to the US President in this regard.” This was stated by NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who specifically cited the increase in military spending in countries “such as Spain, Italia, Belgium and Canada, which have reached 2 per cent”. “To a small extent, the Trump factor played a part, and I commend him for that.” Rutte then added that “Europeans are stepping up their efforts en masse, in countries such as Germany and many others, and of course, if one or two countries still need convincing, we have the means to do so”.

(Il Sole 24 Ore Radiocor) -

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