Analysis by UK The Times... Supports Polish President's Claim
"Poland's Defense Budget Used to Buy Weapons from US Companies"
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to push NATO member countries to raise their defense spending to around 3% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) if he wins this year's presidential election.
On the 3rd (local time), the British daily The Times reported this, citing a close aide to former President Trump. According to the report, Trump has been considering this plan following a meeting last month in New York with Polish President Andrzej Duda. The source said, "His thinking has been moving toward '3%' especially after the conversation with President Duda," adding, "This does not include funds for Ukraine."
President Duda has long advocated significantly increasing NATO-wide defense spending. On March 11, he wrote in the U.S. daily The Washington Post (WP), "The Russian regime poses the greatest threat to world peace since the end of the Cold War," and "As the threat grows, it is time to increase defense spending to 3% of GDP." He also raised this issue during a summit with U.S. President Joe Biden the following day. It is expected that he will reiterate this stance at the NATO 75th anniversary summit to be held in Washington D.C. this July.
Previously, NATO member countries agreed in 2014 to spend 2% of GDP on defense. However, only about two-thirds of the members meet this standard. The countries spending more than 3% of GDP on defense are Poland (4.3%), the United States (3.3%), and Greece (3.1%).
The Times analyzed that the fact a significant portion of Poland's defense budget is spent on purchasing U.S.-made weapons may have stimulated former President Trump's business instincts.
If Trump pushes this plan upon returning to power, there is a high possibility of confrontation with Europe over defense spending, similar to his first term. At that time, Trump pressured NATO members to increase their defense budgets, insisting that the U.S. would take care of its own security.
In February, he even stated that NATO allies who do not pay enough for defense would not be helped if attacked by Russia and might instead be encouraged to face Russian aggression.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
