One of the warning signs of a future war is something which Trump has been promoting, which is the public declaration that she must “pay her fair share” and should take a greater responsibility for herself in Europe. This is what both want, as it is loosening the post-World War II shackles imposed upon her by the Allied and opens the way, especially in the current nationalistic climate, to militarism.
Germany took another step towards this recently as she declared that she will abandon her NATO spending commitments according to a report:
Germany’s military spending is set to fall below its NATO targets, in the latest flashpoint in Berlin’s long-running row with Washington.
The latest German budget plans, revealed on Monday, will see defence spending drop well below the two per cent of GDP expected from NATO members.
U.S. ambassador Richard Grenell said the cuts were a ‘worrisome signal’, while President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Germany of freeloading on U.S. military might.
But German Chancellor Angela Merkel rejected the U.S. criticism, saying Germany will not cut foreign aid to raise military spending.
Merkel said today that ‘we will continue our effort’ in terms of raising defence spending, ‘but not at the expense of development aid’.
‘We have always said that we’re headed in the direction of two percent, and that by 2024 we will reach 1.5 per cent,’ she said.
‘I can understand that this is not enough for the American President, it’s not enough for many European allies.’
Merkel said today that ‘we will continue our effort’ in terms of raising defence spending, ‘but not at the expense of development aid’.
‘We have always said that we’re headed in the direction of two percent, and that by 2024 we will reach 1.5 per cent,’ she said.
‘I can understand that this is not enough for the American President, it’s not enough for many European allies.’
While German defence spending went up from $45 billion to $50 billion last year, the growing economy meant the figure relative to GDP stayed flat at 1.23 percent.
U.S. Ambassador Richard Grenell – who has criticised Germany on issues from its Iran policy to proposals to use telecom equipment by China’s Huawei – was quick to comment on the projection.
‘NATO members clearly pledged to move towards, not away from, two percent by 2024,’ he said, referring to a goal set at a 2014 alliance summit.
‘That the German government would even be considering reducing its already unacceptable commitments to military readiness is a worrisome signal to Germany’s 28 NATO Allies.’
Grenell’s latest reprimand sparked anger in Berlin.
Social Democratic MP Carsten Schneider labelled Grenell a ‘total diplomatic failure’ and the liberal FDP party’s Wolfgang Kubicki even demanded the envoy be expelled.
In 2018 Washington spent nearly $700 billion on defence, compared with just $280 billion for all the European NATO allies combined. (source, source)
It is another note closer in recreating the song of the 20th century, which was to the tune of destruction.
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