In The Media

Why Donald Trump’s attacks on NATO might make some leaders less likely to spend more

by Amanda Connolly (feat. Elinor Sloan and Steve Saideman)

Global News
July 9, 2018

For months, U.S. President Donald Trump has railed against NATO members including Canada for not spending two per cent of their GDP on defence.

His attacks come as the 29 members of the alliance prepare to meet this week in Brussels and ahead of a one-on-one meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that will come just days after the NATO meeting wraps up.

But while previous American leaders have made similar calls for members to increase their defence spending, Trump’s unpopularity could mean some leaders at the meeting will be even less inclined to consider his demands and more likely to focus on the problems with relying on what one expert calls a “broken” system for measuring contributions.