Posted on 01/28/2017 3:43:07 PM PST by TigerClaws
German Chancellor Angela Merkel and U.S. President Donald Trump underscored the importance of the NATO alliance and vowed to work more closely together to combat terrorism and militancy, the two leaders said in a joint statement on Saturday.
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"The leaders recognized that NATO must be capable of confronting 21st century threats and that our common defense requires appropriate investment in military capabilities to ensure all allies are contributing their fair share to our collective security," Merkel and Trump said in the statement.
Trump accepted Merkel's invitation to attend a summit of G20 industrialized countries in Hamburg in July, and said he looked forward to welcoming Merkel to Washington soon. Germany is chairing the G20 group this year.
The statement made no mention of Trump's executive order limiting immigration or his moves to cancel free trade deals, issues that have drawn criticism from German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel and other German officials in recent days.
Trump also spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Francois Hollande, whose office said he warned the U.S. leader about the economic and political consequences of protectionism.
ADVERTISEMENT The joint German-U.S. statement, by contrast, highlighted areas of common interest and stressed the importance of ties between the United States and Europe's largest economy.
The language on NATO came after Trump called the alliance "obsolete", but it highlighted the need for reforms and updates.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
I love that "fair share" now refers to foreign countries not freeloading off the U. S. Good job taking that phrase over from Dems.
I read an analysis of the costs. The author said that Merkel would give in and spend the 2% of GDP because that was only a fraction of what they’d need to spend if the US withdrew from NATO. Germany and the EU nations don’t have a military. They, essentially, have a palace guard with a few ships, planes and tanks. If they suddenly got into a real fight without NATO, they would be a walk-over.
The question is, with Germany over-extended by their “guests” what will have to suffer? She will have an awful political problem on her hands. Raise taxes or cut the freebies? They can’t just produce more money. Not and stay in the EU.
I know!!! Brilliant!
Maybe, or maybe Merkel is just being reasonable. Germany spends something like 1.2% of their GNP on their military, DESPITE having agreed to spend at least 2% (still a terribly low number, by the way).
She’s simply figured out that it is MUCH BETTER to be on Trump’s good side, than on his bad side.
Merkel agrees until she gets reelected
Europe needs to help the U S pay for the defensive wall against the ongoing invasion by nonNATO Mexico...
Which is why, in large part, they can spend so much on social programs / public health care, etc.
Many EU countries don’t even have tanks anymore. And their “military” budgets are packed with non war fighting bills like day care for those in the military.
The big problem is that when Germany spends 1.2% pretty much all the rest of NATO follow their lead. If Germany was spending 2% right now no way many other members would be at near 1%
NATO is not in America’s interest. It was started in response to now-defunct Warsaw Pact. It was started as a defensive organization in Western Europe but in the last quarter century it’s been used as an offensive organization in the Middle East (to destroy Libya) and expanding and confrontational of Russia.
When Putin moved on Ukraine the EU was paralyzed. It took Germany 9 months to arrive in the Baltics after Latvia invoked article 4. It’s pretty clear since back to the Cold War that if a shooting war kicks off that we can’t count on the political leadership of Europe.
Yeah Trump hates Free-Loaders, and said if they won’t pay up they won’t be protected.
So, UNWANTED DEPENDANts are on notice, pay up or take a hike.
Also, American soldiers serve American interest, risk their lives for America, so no more 10 EU soldiers per 100 American soldiers, that is window dressing and doesn’t cover the stars and stripe draped coffins. I am tired of so called coalitions that are fake phony with few EU guys risking their hides.
I think the Germans are down to less then 100 tanks.
I don’t think that present day Europeans have the mindset to fight for their countries or their freedoms.We’ve provided an umbrella of protection free for too long.
“Many EU countries don’t even have tanks anymore. And their “military” budgets are packed with non war fighting bills like day care for those in the military.”
A young man who rented from me told me the best thing that ever happened to him was when his dad threw him out on his own. It is time to throw them out on their own.
“What is most infuriating about modern European leaders is their arrogance in weakness. If Europe actually spent their own money building a robust military for themselves they would not have to freaload off of America. However, they do not and have rendered themselves into dependents; useless, ungrateful, and unwanted dependents. “
Their strategy has been to freeload while they spend the money that should have gone into NATO to build their Marxist/Socialist $hit hole countries. But now, we’re calling their “bluff,” and as you point out they are like a one-legged man at an a$$ kicking contest when it comes to being able to actually defend themselves against Putin. So what will they do? They can help pay for their defense and pi$$ off their welfare recipients, or keep the benes flowing and hope Putin doesn’t attack them. Their faux arrogance is just an act, they are all crapping bricks about where they are today.
On side note, does anyone ever thing of a merkin every time they hear or see ‘Merkel’?
Just me?
okay then
:D
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