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U.S. warns NATO - increase spending or we might 'moderate' support

By Phil Stewart and Robin Emmott

REUTERS

 

U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg brief the media during a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, February 15, 2017. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir

 

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's defence secretary warned NATO allies on Wednesday that they must honour military spending pledges to ensure the United States does not "moderate" support for the alliance.

 

Jim Mattis, on his debut trip to Brussels as Pentagon chief, also accused some NATO members of ignoring threats, including from Russia.

 

"America cannot care more for your children's future security than you do," Mattis said in a closed-door session with NATO defence ministers, according to prepared remarks provided to reporters.

 

The comments represented some of the strongest criticism in memory of allies who have failed to reach defence spending goals.

 

Europe's low expenditure has long been a sore point for the United States, which puts up 70 percent of alliance funds. But Trump has made change a priority, saying allies have "been very unfair to us" for not spending more.

 

Trump was sharply critical of NATO during his election campaign, making European allies nervous by calling the alliance obsolete and praising Russian President Vladimir Putin.

 

Since taking office on Jan. 20, Trump has voiced strong support for NATO, comments echoed by Mattis at NATO's Brussels headquarters. Mattis called NATO "the most successful and powerful military alliance in modern history" and made a point of shaking hands with each of his European counterparts at the start of the meeting.

 

Mattis, however, suggested U.S. support should not be seen as a given.

 

"I owe it to you to give you clarity on the political reality in the United States, and to state the fair demand from my country's people in concrete terms," Mattis said.

 

"America will meet its responsibilities, but if your nations do not want to see America moderate its commitment to this alliance, each of your capitals needs to show support for our common defence."

 

Mattis stopped short of issuing an explicit ultimatum or say how the United States might moderate its support. The United States for years has called for European allies to spend 2 percent of economic output on defence, he said.

 

But he added that NATO allies must show progress in 2017 and adopt a plan, with target dates, towards defence spending goals.

 

Italy and Spain, two of Europe's larger economies, spend barely 1 percent a year on defence as they seek to curtail budget deficits following the 2008/2009 global financial crisis.

 

Belgium, the Netherlands and Denmark, three other wealthy European nations that are among the smallest spenders on defence, still need to convince centre-left political parties that do not support higher defence spending, preferring to prioritise welfare and education.

 

But the Baltic states of Latvia and Lithuania, who fear a repeat of Russia's 2014 annexation of Ukraine's Crimean peninsula, are on course to meet the 2 percent goal, while Romania is also heading towards that level.

 

HARDLY A "MAD DOG"

 

After Mattis' address, Britain's Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said the former U.S. general had explained that "the impatience of the American taxpayer is a reality".

 

Other defence chiefs appeared to back up Mattis' plea and he was broadly seen to be reassuring NATO of America's commitment after a contentious election campaign that put allies on edge.

 

German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen told the session that "the United States is right" on defence spending, according to one official who was present at the time, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.

 

Czech Defence Minister Martin Stropnicky said he was not surprised by Mattis' remarks, and described him as "absolutely calm, humble even" - far from the "Mad Dog" nickname that Trump himself has used for him.

 

"It wasn't that dramatic," he told Reuters. "The important point is that the United States is committed to a strong NATO and that means properly financed armed forces."

 

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also dismissed concerns about the U.S. commitment to NATO, and played down the fallout from turmoil within Trump's administration.

 

Trump has been jolted by the resignation of national security adviser Michael Flynn over his contacts with Russia's ambassador. U.S. intelligence agencies have accused Moscow of interfering in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

 

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Editing by Tom Heneghan)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2017-02-16

[daveAustin]

Don't blame the yanks for this. Some of the euro nations are taking the piss, the Baltic ones that especially who rely on NATO to ward off the ruskies.

[Grouse]

You sure you want Germany to double their expenditure on military? Sure? Another 40 Billion per year?

[Kasset Tak]

I think that this is not really US talking, I believe that it's Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and all the others that have spend a lot to get Trump in to office that are calling the shoots!

[Rob13]

2 minutes ago, Kasset Tak said:

I think that this is not really US talking, I believe that it's Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and all the others that have spend a lot to get Trump in to office that are calling the shoots

 

 

Why would defense contractors want the US gov to reduce military spending?

 

 

[craigt3365]

13 minutes ago, Kasset Tak said:

I think that this is not really US talking, I believe that it's Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Honeywell and all the others that have spend a lot to get Trump in to office that are calling the shoots!

Trump said he wasn't beholden to anybody and would take office free of the obligations his rival would have.  And for sure, Trump says what he wants.  Nobody makes him say anything.

[The Old Bull]

NATO is obsolete should have been abandoned when the Soviet Union collapsed. Now it is just a cash cow for the arms manufacturers and the military. Go home yanks.

[craigt3365]

15 minutes ago, The Old Bull said:

NATO is obsolete should have been abandoned when the Soviet Union collapsed. Now it is just a cash cow for the arms manufacturers and the military. Go home yanks.

Tell that to the Baltics.  And do some research on how they were treated by the Soviet Union.  It wasn't good and memories are very long there.  They are quite happy the "yanks" are there.

[Kasset Tak]

1 hour ago, Rob13 said:

 

 

Why would defense contractors want the US gov to reduce military spending?

 

 

They don't want US to reduce spending... they want all other countries to spend more!

[Srikcir]

47 minutes ago, The Old Bull said:

Now it is just a cash cow for the

American arms manufacturers!

[Rob13]

35 minutes ago, Kasset Tak said:

They don't want US to reduce spending... they want all other countries to spend more!

 

Doubtful the defense contractors would back a threat that would see their profits drop.  

[ilostmypassword]

This is probably the only thing I agree with Trump on.  Military spending is fundamentally a drag on a healthy economy. It's necessary, but it's a drag. The United States has been burdening itself for too long with subsidizing the defense of other nations. And not just Europe. The USA spends more on defense as a percentage of GDP than does South Korea. 

[joecoolfrog]

I think in this instance the US is on firm ground , why should certain NATO members abide by their financial obligations and others be allowed to pay what they like ?

[Thongkorn]

3 hours ago, Srikcir said:

American arms manufacturers!

 BAE   British owned.

[ilostmypassword]

Given Trump's statements  "moderating support" must mean "Instead of standing aside when the Russians invade, we'll join them."