The former President of the United States, who undeniably represents the largest military power of the group, says members who underpay will be at risk from enemies. Implying the security coalition would not defend those members.
Recent comments made by former American President Trump that NATO members were not pulling their weight when it comes to military spend, implied there would be consequences. As a result, leaders of both NATO and some member nations have declared they will be increasing military spend to better align with alliance security goals.
Who are the NATO Members?
NATO currently has 31 member countries, with recent entrants as late as 2023. These countries, call themselves NATO Allies. They are a coalition of sovereign states that have united under NATO to discuss global political issues, security threats, and to make collective decisions by consensus regarding the wellbeing of members.
Albania – 2009, Belgium-1949, Bulgaria-2004, Canada-1949, Croatia-2009, Czechia-1999, Denmark-1949, Estonia-2004, Finland-2023, France-1949, Germany-1955, Greece-1952, Hungary-1999, Iceland-1949, Italy-1949, Latvia-2004, Lithuania-2004, Luxembourg-1949, Montenegro-2017, Netherlands-1949, North Macedonia-2020, Norway-1949, Poland-1999, Portugal-1949, Romania-2004, Slovakia-2004, Slovenia-2004, Spain-1982, Turkey-1952, United Kingdom-1949, United States-1949
Foundations of NATO
- NATO was created on 4 April 1949.
- NATO. Began with 2 countries from Europe and North America
- Since then, 19 more countries have joined NATO through nine new members rounds
- New member rounds took place in 1952, 1955, 1982, 1999, 2004, 2009, 2017, 2020 and 2023
- Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty instructs how countries can join the Alliance.
- Membership is open to any “European State in a position to further the principles of this Treaty and to contribute to the security of the North Atlantic area”.
- Any consideration for new members to join the Alliance is taken by the North Atlantic Council.
- The council is NATO’s principal political decision-making body, on the basis of consensus among all members.
On signing the Treaty to become a NATO member, countries voluntarily commit themselves to participating in the political consultations and military activities of the Organization. Although every member signatory to the North Atlantic Treaty is subject to the obligations of the Treaty, there remains a certain degree of flexibility which allows members to choose how they directly participate in the alliance.
NATO recently confirmed that European members would increase its spending on defence to support the United States and its allies. The announcement comes days after the former U.S. president Donald Trump suggested that Washington might not protect member states that did not spend the required percentage of GPD (Gross Domestic Product) towards military defense.
“I expect 18 allies to spend two per cent of their GDP on defence this year”
Jens Stoltenberg – Secretary General of NATO
ARE WE GETTING CLOSER TO A WORLD WAR?
Jens Stoltenberg is a Norwegian politician who has served as the 13th secretary general of NATO since 2014.
Stoltenberg also stated at the media conference in Brussels, that additional member countries would be adding to overall military by the end of 2024. Stoltenberg also said military spending was set for another record year. This comes two years after Russia’s invasion against its European neighbour Ukraine, which has resulted in a full-fledged war within Europe.
“The number was higher than last year, when 11 of NATO’s 31 members were expected to reach the agreed target.”
Jens Stoltenberg – Secretary General of NATO
Former U.S. President Trump shocked the world by implying that if elected as President in 2024 that he would encourage enemies of NATO “to do whatever the hell they want” for those who did not spend enough on defence.
As the world looks on at the upcoming U.S. Presidential elections, one thing is for certain, NATO members will be reviewing federal budgets to ensure they are not left out in the cold if a wider war persists in Europe, the Middle East or Asia.
