The most alarming news this week
for Portugal and the rest of Europe has been Donald Trump’s threat to abandon
NATO because some members were “not paying their bills.” He said he told a NATO
ally that he would encourage Russia “to do whatever the hell they want to
‘delinquent’ members.”
It sent shock waves
across all member states. As president of the United States from January
2017 t0 January 2021, Trump was scathing about members of the alliance. If
reinstated to the White House as expected in this November’s national election,
it is feared he may turn his bitter words into action. At this stage,
there are serious worries that his latest threat is more than electioneering
hyperbole from a would-be dictator.
Incumbent President Joe Biden
called Trump’s comments “appalling and dangerous.” NATO Secretary General Jens
Stoltenberg warned that the threat put American and European soldiers “at
increasing risk.”
In the aftermath of the Second
World War, Portugal was one of the 12 founding countries of the Atlantic
Alliance in 1949. Today there are a total of 31 members of the
alliance, Finland becoming the latest, by joining last year. However, only 11
of the 31 are paying their agreed share on defence, according to official
estimates. These composed mostly of countries close to Russia and Ukraine.
Portugal is among the 20 not paying enough.
The alliance set a target of 2%
of gross domestic product (GDP) for each member. Poland is top of the list of
spenders with 3.90% of its GDP on defence more than the United States which
spends 3.49%. The United Kingdom is also above the 2% threshold. The most
notable members not reaching the target are France (1.90%), Germany (1.57%) and
Norway (1. 67%). Portugal is closer to the bottom of the list with 1.48%.
Canada has only managed 1.38% and Spain 1.26%.
Despite the defence spending
below the 2% guideline, Jens Stoltenberg hit back at Trump, saying, “I expect
that regardless of who wins the election, the U.S will remain a strong and
committed ally.” He stressed that any attack on a NATO country would “be met
with a united and forceful response.” NATO is heavily involved in
supporting Ukraine following Russia’s 2022 invasion, and is collaborating more
with Indo-Pacific countries in view of China’s aggression in the region.
Portugal is perhaps one of NATO’s
least vulnerable countries should it come to a spread of the conflict in
Europe. Yet the geographical location of mainland Portugal, the Azores and
Madeira has always offered a strategic, protective triangle for NATO. An increase
in defence expenditure will no doubt be debated after next month’s legislative
election in this country.
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