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Defense spending boost best answer to Trump: EU, NATO officials
Reuters ^ | November 30th, 2016 | By Andrea Shalal | BERLIN

Posted on 11/30/2016 7:04:38 PM PST by Mariner

Top NATO and European military officials called in Berlin on Wednesday for more military spending to deal with threats to Europe and said that would help address concerns raised by U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

During his election campaign, Trump questioned whether the United States should protect allies seen as spending too little on their defense, raising fears he could withdraw funding for NATO at a time of heightened tensions with Russia.

In Brussels on Wednesday, the European Union unveiled its biggest defense funding and research plan in more than a decade to reverse billions in cuts and demonstrate that it wants to pay for its own security.

"The best answer to Mr. Trump is to prove that he's wrong, to prove that Europe is strong enough to defend itself," French Admiral Philippe Coindreau, vice chief of defense staff, said during a panel discussion at the Berlin Security Conference.

"I think European nations should increase their defense budgets."

(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS:
Gee, wasn't it just last week that the German Defense Minister was saying that Trump could not treat NATO and the EU like a business?
1 posted on 11/30/2016 7:04:38 PM PST by Mariner
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To: Mariner

Czech General Petr Pavel, who heads the NATO military committee, said U.S. demands for higher military spending were nothing new.

Pavel said it was more important to focus on tangible improvements in military capabilities than fixate on the 2 percent target, which he said was “too far and too big” for many NATO members to meet anytime soon.


2 posted on 11/30/2016 7:05:58 PM PST by Mariner (War Criminal #18)
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To: Mariner

What is new is that Trump will dump them if they don’t pay up


3 posted on 11/30/2016 7:08:47 PM PST by ari-freedom (The Social Justice War is over and we won!)
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To: Mariner

4 posted on 11/30/2016 7:09:34 PM PST by capydick (“Within the covers of the Bible are the answers for all the problems men face.)
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To: Mariner

Not tired of winning yet.


5 posted on 11/30/2016 7:20:37 PM PST by WMarshal ( Schadenfreude, it feels so good!)
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To: Mariner

Nato is worthless. It is a dinosaur. We need to purge all Generals above 2 star. Go hire the heroes that were fired!! We need to remove all faggots. Women need to be removed from any where near combat! We need to remove the current arned services oversight chairman in the House ( Thornberry) who get 75% of his $1.6 million in campaign contributions from DEFENSE CONTRACTOR!!! MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!


6 posted on 11/30/2016 7:20:53 PM PST by WENDLE (Sanctuary cities are OBSTRUCTING JUSTICE!! That is a FELONY!! Ask Nixon!!)
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To: Mariner

I call bullsh*t on the general. The politicians just don’t want to irritate their core group of moochers.


7 posted on 11/30/2016 7:21:49 PM PST by WMarshal ( Schadenfreude, it feels so good!)
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To: Mariner
*"The best answer to Mr. Trump is to prove that he's wrong, to prove that Europe is strong enough to defend itself," French Admiral Philippe Coindreau, vice chief of defense staff, said during a panel discussion at the Berlin Security Conference.* Cheese-eating surrender monkeys!
8 posted on 11/30/2016 7:24:12 PM PST by heterosupremacist (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: heterosupremacist

9 posted on 11/30/2016 7:24:46 PM PST by heterosupremacist (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Mariner

That’s what Trump wants, you idiots. Spend more and carry your weight.


10 posted on 11/30/2016 7:26:56 PM PST by pissant ((Deport 'em all))
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To: pissant

11 posted on 11/30/2016 7:29:46 PM PST by heterosupremacist (Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God ~ Thomas Jefferson)
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To: Mariner

So in other words the best answer to Trump is to do exactly what he’s demanded. Cool.


12 posted on 11/30/2016 7:38:22 PM PST by katana
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To: Mariner

In January we are sending over 40k troops to Europe to protect their muzzie loving, cheap butts, and they STILL complain?????


13 posted on 11/30/2016 7:39:53 PM PST by PrairieLady2
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To: Mariner

Trump already fixing the world and he hasn’t even been sworn in !


14 posted on 11/30/2016 7:49:15 PM PST by TexasFreeper2009 (You can't spell Hillary without using the letters L, I, A, R)
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To: Mariner

Again, thanks for trying Obama you lazy a**.


15 posted on 11/30/2016 8:33:16 PM PST by toddausauras (Trump 2016)
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To: Mariner

Coindreau, you’re proving he’s right.


16 posted on 11/30/2016 10:34:19 PM PST by NonValueAdded (#DeplorableMe #BitterClinger #HillNO! #MyPresident #MAGA)
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To: Mariner

LOL! Just what Trump said they should do and they want to do it to teach him a lesson....more winning.


17 posted on 12/01/2016 4:09:25 AM PST by trebb (Where in the the hell has my country gone?)
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