NATO finds leeway on defense spending goal

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NATO finds leeway on defense spending goal

NATO leaders on Wednesday agreed to a major defense spending increase while leaving room for some alliance countries to not hit the new spending goals thanks to very particular wording.

© AP

“Allies commit to invest 5% of GDP annually on core defense requirements as well as defense-and security-related spending by 2035 to ensure our individual and collective obligations,” the 32 leaders of the alliance said in a statement that pointedly did not specify “all allies” had committed to doing so.

President Trump since his first term has pressured NATO countries to commit more of their annual GDP to military spending as the United States looks to shift its attention from security priorities in Europe to the Indo-Pacific and Middle East.

NATO’s biggest-spending member, Washington, since early this year has insisted........

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