Macron Denies Trump Claim That NATO Allies Agreed to Increase Spending Beyond Goals

Mediaite/MSN ^ | 7-12-2018 | Aidan McLaughlin

[tcrlaf]

President Donald Trump on Thursday said NATO allies agreed to “substantially up their commitment” to the alliance after he told leaders he was “extremely unhappy.”

“Tremendous progress has been made. Everyone’s agreed to substantially up their commitment. They’re going to up it at levels that they’ve never thought of before,” Trump said at his press conference in Brussels.

“Commitments were made,” he said. “The commitment was at 2 percent, ultimately that’ll be going up quite a bit higher than that.”

French President Emmanuel Macron denied that any NATO members had agreed to boost contributions beyond 2 percent GDP.

“There is a communique that was published yesterday. It’s very detailed,” Macron said, per the Associated Press. “It confirms the goal of 2 percent by 2024. That’s all.”

Macron also denied reports that Trump had threatened to withdraw from the NATO alliance.

[Marchmain]

Macron is French, it’s gone to his head! ;)

[Berlin_Freeper]

Just a question that you showed worth asking.

[Yulee]

You can have a world class military or socialism. You can’t have both.
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Unfortunately the US has been funding exactly that for the members of NATO: NATO (world class military), governments of most EU members (Socialism).

The Eu refuses to defend itself from the subtle invasion of Islamist, cries foul against Russian aggression in the Ukraine, fund Iran’s terrorist activities through trade, and funnel funds to Russia through the purchase of oil and gas.

The result is Russian can revitalize and modernize their military, continue their long time support for bad actors (North Korea, Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba etc.), and work to reestablish the Russian Empire.

[Gen.Blather]

“Unfortunately the US has been funding exactly that for the members of NATO: NATO (world class military), governments of most EU members (Socialism).”

Good point. Frankly, I’m tired of it. It’s refreshing to hear Trump is too.

Incidentally, there was a discussion on FR today about how Germany basically doesn’t have a working air force, navy or army that can deploy for any reasonable length of time. If they had to defend themselves, perhaps they’d be more invested.

[kiryandil]

Macht nichts

[Berlin_Freeper]

Oath of Eorl

[deadrock]

This is a “we double dare you” moment. The EU still thinks there are dealing with a politician.

[VeniVidiVici]

Macron - Cheese-Eating-Surrender-Monkey. As I’m sure has been stated.

[Jumper]

Trump turned up the heat on the EU and the first to jump was the frog, course’n maybe the Kraut got boiled in Oil and Natural Gas as well.

[manc]

so they are saying that they admit they do not pay what they agreed to pay, and are going back on their word. Well done Mr President you called them and made them admit their failure.

[confederatecarpetbag]

This is classic art of the deal. Put a number out and put pressure on the other side to deliver if they want to deal. Otherwise, if they fail to live up to the commitments, Trump has the leverage to say, “Sorry NATO allies, we’re going to realign the alliance with willing participants: the new Europe of Hungary, Poland, Croatia ET al.”

Let the rest of the Western Continent fend for itself, as the Muslim hordes pour in. EU lacks any semblance of substantive military defense. The squeeze is on. it can’t handle the tariffs, and can’t live without access to our markets.

[Sa-teef]

"A metrosexual soy-eating surrender monkey gainsays the Presidetn of the United States.

Who ya gonna believe - the soy, or your lying eyes?"

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Hahahaha....We used to call them cheese-eating surrender monkeys but that has a bit more of a modern ring to it. Besides, I'm from Wisconsin and rather fond of cheese?

[pepsionice]

My suspicion is that Trump will sit down with Putin, and agree to some major economic stance between the two, with a nuke deal within twelve months (maybe shutting down half the nuke missiles on each side). At that point, the whole reason for NATO to exist is called into question, and Trump could make the dismantlement of NATO his whole agenda for 2020-2024.

I know it sounds crazy, but his statement of saying Putin is not an ‘enemy but a competitor’....probably blew away half of the State Department idiots.

[jmacusa]

Pato is another Spanish word for the same thing.

[2harddrive]

Now you know why in France they call him “Maricon” Macron!

[Svartalfiar]

Macron isn’t even living up to his original 2% promise. Trudeau needs to quit running his trap about Trump with his teeny little .99%. I say the US doesn’t contribute a dime over the lowest country. And cut funding to the UN and zero goes to any who spit on us.

Huh? Do you know what those numbers are? The 2% has nothing to do with funding NATO, it's the minimum percent of GDP each country agreed to spend on their respective military budget. Yes, we need to reduce UN funding and foreign $$, but these numbers aren't related.