Trump will ask NATO member states to raise defence spending to 5 per cent of GDP
Donald Trump's team told European officials, as reported by the Financial Times
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Donald Trump's team told European officials that the incoming US president will ask Nato member states to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP, but plans to continue providing military aid to Ukraine. The Financial Times reports.
NATO allies are already discussing the possibility of raising the target to 3% ahead of the June leaders' meeting, but many capitals are concerned about the difficult fiscal decisions this would require.
At their last summit in recent days, Nato's main European allies, including France, Germany, the UK, Italy and Poland, met with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels to discuss how the continent would adapt its defence policies in response to Trump's return.
Trump still believes Ukraine should never join Nato and wants an immediate end to the conflict, but believes that providing arms to Kiev after a ceasefire would guarantee a 'peace through force' outcome, said one of the sources heard by Ft.
After 24 hours of meetings with NATO and EU leaders in Brussels, Zelensky said that European commitments to defend Ukraine 'would not be sufficient' without US involvement.
