Over many years, the United States has criticised NATO Allies for not spending enough on defence.
Rightly so.
And I commend the U.S. leadership on this important issue.
But things have changed.
All Allies have increased defence investments.
Adding an additional 450 billion dollars.
NATO Allies have committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence.
And many are exceeding that target already.
For example, this year Poland will spend more than 4%.
No other Ally spends more.
With more money, we are boosting our defence industry.
NATO creates a market for defence sales.
Over the last two years, NATO Allies have agreed to purchase 120 billion dollars’ worth of weapons from U.S. defence companies.
Including thousands of missiles to the U.K, Finland and Lithuania,
Hundreds of Abrams tanks to Poland and Romania,
And hundreds of F-35 aircraft across many European Allied nations – a total of 600 by 2030.
From Arizona to Virginia, Florida to Washington state,
American jobs depend on American sales to defence markets in Europe and Canada.
What you produce keeps people safe.
What Allies buy keeps American businesses strong.
So NATO is a good deal for the United States.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Heritage Foundation stands for the power of ideas that keep America strong.
NATO is an incredibly powerful idea.
That advances U.S. interests.
And multiplies America’s power.
Here is the relevant section:
Over many years, the United States has criticised NATO Allies for not spending enough on defence. Rightly so. And I commend the U.S. leadership on this important issue. But things have changed.
All Allies have increased defence investments. Adding an additional 450 billion dollars. NATO Allies have committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence. And many are exceeding that target already. For example, this year Poland will spend more than 4%. No other Ally spends more.
With more money, we are boosting our defence industry.
NATO creates a market for defence sales.
Over the last two years, NATO Allies have agreed to purchase 120 billion dollars’ worth of weapons from U.S. defence companies.
Including thousands of missiles to the U.K, Finland and Lithuania, Hundreds of Abrams tanks to Poland and Romania, And hundreds of F-35 aircraft across many European Allied nations – a total of 600 by 2030. From Arizona to Virginia, Florida to Washington state, American jobs depend on American sales to defence markets in Europe and Canada.
What you produce keeps people safe. What Allies buy keeps American businesses strong. So NATO is a good deal for the United States.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Heritage Foundation stands for the power of ideas that keep America strong. NATO is an incredibly powerful idea. That advances U.S. interests. And multiplies America’s power.
Heritage Foundation desperately trying to get Trump to STFU. Goodluck with that.