Romania Just Pledged To Pay Its NATO Dues — But It Has Nothing To Do With Trump
Romania’s pledge to meet its commitment to paying 2% of its GDP into its defense is something President Trump has harped on. But it made the choice back in 2015.
Vice President Mike Pence was in Europe this weekend, meeting with NATO leadership and reassuring them of the US's commitment to the alliance — and reminding them to pay their bills.
All of NATO's 28 members have pledged to spend 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense — and most of them are pretty crap at it, to be honest. "America will do our part," Pence said while in Brussels. "But Europe's defense requires Europe's commitment as well as ours," he continued, adding "the patience of the American people will not endure forever."
Virginia Mayo / AFP / Getty Images
That's been a big deal for President Donald Trump, who during the campaign called NATO "obsolete" and insisted that the US might not step up to defend members if they don't pay up.
For the record, the US spends a little over 3% of its GDP on defense spending — but our economy is also absolutely massive, so grain of salt there.
Jim Watson / AFP / Getty Images
Then on Monday, Romania's embassy in Washington decided to herald the fact that it would become the sixth member of NATO to actually reach that goal.
"The budget drafted by the Government of Romania had received prior approval by the Parliament and the defense authorization provisions have been unanimously supported by all political parties," the statement from the embassy read.
"This sets a new milestone in Romania’s NATO membership and reconfirms Romania’s unwavering commitment to transatlantic security."
Daniel Mihailescu / AFP / Getty Images
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