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Donald Trump’s (77) statement shocked the Western world. “No, I wouldn’t protect you,” he said Saturday during the presidential elections in South Carolina. What was meant was NATO states investing too little in their own defense. Trump: ‘Actually, I would encourage the Russians to do whatever they want. You have to pay. You have to pay your bills.”
Following Russia’s annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, NATO reiterated in 2014 its goal that each member state should invest at least two percent of gross domestic product in its own defense by 2025. As the figures show, the curves have actually risen since then, albeit often only slightly. Switzerland also has a lot of catching up to do.
Countries such as Denmark, Spain, Portugal, but also Eastern European countries such as Hungary, Bulgaria and Slovenia are still far from the goal. In particular, the states directly bordering Russia and Belarus, such as Poland and the Baltic states, have clearly exceeded the two percent limit.
Germany, which has made massive cuts in military spending in recent years, is also still halfway there. As recently as 2019, German SPD vice-chairman Ralf Stegner (64) said: “We have other concerns in Germany than pointless rearmament.” That has changed enormously. The Ministry of Defense writes today: “It is the top priority of the federal government to further strengthen the defense capacity of the Bundeswehr.” Despite the tense financial situation, Germany wants to fulfill its obligations to NATO and make its two percent contribution to GDP from 2024.
Without the US, NATO is a skeleton team. NATO expert Mauro Mantovani (60) from the ETH Military Academy: “The NATO states without the US would be weak and would not be able to deter a Russian invasion on their own.” However, there would still be no “rush of the Russian army”, because after two years in Ukraine it was at least half worn out, Mantovani says.
NATO would hardly help Switzerland
If Switzerland were a member of NATO, its military investment relative to GDP would be near the bottom of the rankings. In 2030, the value must be increased from the current 0.8 to 1 percent. “Switzerland has neglected investments, especially in the military and in ground air defense,” Mantovani said.
Switzerland should not be dependent on NATO protection, says expert. “NATO protects Switzerland only partially and indirectly by preventing Moscow from violating NATO’s eastern border. However, if Moscow uses ballistic missiles against targets in Switzerland, I would not count on a response from NATO.”
Mantovani also wanted the two percent target for Switzerland. “But it seems to me unrealistic in terms of domestic policy, because there is a lack of willingness among the parties to make cuts elsewhere or to raise taxes for this.”
He describes Trump’s threat as a ‘wake-up call to the delinquent NATO partners in Europe’, but at the same time as a signal to his electorate, who are convinced that the Europeans are only too happy to hand over the unpopular ‘warfare’ to them. leave. the US and in return treated itself to even more ‘prosperity’ (in German: ‘prosperity’).
Talk to Trump now!
For Wolfgang Ischinger (77), head of the Munich Security Conference from 2008 to 2022, there is only one thing to do. “Europeans must shed their reputation as cheap free riders when it comes to security policies and show that they are willing to do more for their own security.” He said this in the SRF program “Gredig Direkt” during the WEF.
Ischinger demands that Europe now prepares for a possible new Trump administration and therefore contacts him and his Republican Party. “You have to explain to him that American security interests are also represented in Ukraine and that Europe is doing a lot to make Ukraine defensive.”
Source: Blick
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
