Belgian Prime Minister: US demand for 5% GDP for military unrealistic!

Belgian Prime Minister: US demand for 5% GDP for military unrealistic!

Belgian politicians are increasingly concerned about NATO financing about the recent statements in the United States. Bart de Wever, Prime Minister of Belgium, said in the RTBF broadcasting station that the United States' claim to spend five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) for defense, should be seen as "not feasible" and "not realistic". This statement comes in the context of a trade war that de Wever describes as problematic. He emphasizes that friendship between Europe and the USA should assume "from both sides of the Atlantic".

In an upcoming meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who confirmed the five percent demand, de Wever also shows willingness to further cooperate. Nevertheless, he regrets the ongoing trade dispute and recognizes the US commitment to continue the cooperation. Belgium's current defense budget is already below two percent of GDP, while the United States spends around 3.4 percent for military expenses.

US foreign minister calls for higher contributions from European NATO partners

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that the United States no longer wants to bear the main load of NATO financing. In an interview with Fox News, he said: "We can no longer subsidize it." In response to allegations by the CDU chairman Friedrich Merz, who accused Washington of indifference to European security. Rubio described inadequate military commitment to many European members as the greatest threat to NATO and not US policy.

Former President Donald Trump had repeatedly requested higher contributions and raised the increase in the NATO defense business from 2 percent of GDP to 5 percent, which was announced in the election campaign. Such an adaptation could have an essential impact on the military expenditure policy of European countries.

defense spending in NATO and current developments

According to a report by the Tagesschau, NATO states plan to issue an average of around 2.71 percent of their GDP for defense in 2024, which corresponds to a total of around $ 1.5 trillion. European Allies and Canada are said to spend 2.02 percent of their GDP, which corresponds to around $ 507 billion. The increase in defense spending by 10.9 percent compared to the previous year reflects a changing security situation, not least due to the Russian attack war on Ukraine.

The two percent target value of NATO, which was originally without obligation in 2002 and bindingly decided in 2014, is to be reached by 2024. Germany plans to cross this goal in 2024 and report a defense budget of 2.12 percent, in particular through calculation adjustments. In the meantime, the Czech head of government shows openness to discussions about higher defense spending. The opinions of the German politicians to Trump's demands are also divided, which illustrates the complexity of the cooperation within NATO.