Did Donald Trump push more than US interests at NATO summit?

Did Donald Trump push more than US interests at NATO summit?
By Euronews
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The NATO HQ is opened and defence spending plans outlined, but the US President steals the show in Brussels.

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The new NATO headquarters has been officially opened and plans to meet defence targets outlined, but an exchange between the US President and the Prime Minister of Montenegro has been one of the main talking points following the Brussels summit.

Donald Trump appears to push fellow NATO leader Milo Đukanović out of the way to get to the front of a crowd of alliance chiefs.

Defence spending

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance has agreed to develop annual national plans outlining how member states intend to meet defence targets.

“First, how nations intend to meet their commitments to spend two percent of GDP on defence, of which 20 percent should be invested in major equipment. Second, how to invest additional funding in key regional capabilities that we need. Third, how allies intend to contribute to NATO missions, operations and other engagements.”

Despite this, US President Donald Trump once again accused the alliance’s member states of not spending enough on defence and warned of the possibility of more attacks if militants weren’t stopped.

He claims some countries owe “massive amounts of money” to the United States and NATO, despite there being multiple budgets and allied contributions being voluntary.

“23 of the 28 member nations are still not paying what they should be paying and what they are supposed to be paying for their defense. This is not fair to the people and taxpayers of the United States,” Trump told the leaders gathered.

Stoltenberg admitted that Trump had been “blunt” but also “clear” about his expectations.

Ahead of the summit, police were called in to clear a mixture of anti-Trump and anti-NATO demonstrators who had set up on a road leading to the new HQ.

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