This archive report was first published on 13 December 2019.
December 13, 2019, marked a tense moment in the NATO alliance as US Defense Secretary Mark Esper addressed criticism from President Donald Trump regarding the defense spending of other member countries.
At the Council on Foreign Relations, Esper emphasized that the US was not being unreasonable in demanding that its allies contribute more to the alliance's defense efforts.
"Our alliances are not transactional ones. Rather, they are rooted in mutual respect, common values and a shared willingness to fight for them," Esper said.
He highlighted the importance of the US as the global security partner of choice, citing its superior military capabilities and equipment, as well as its values.
Esper stressed that it was an obligation for countries to contribute more to the alliance, pointing out that in 2014, NATO member countries agreed to increase their defense outlays to reach two percent of GDP each year by 2024.
However, as of 2019, only nine countries had achieved this level, with Germany, one of the richest countries in the alliance, stating that it would not reach the target before 2030.
Esper noted that the US spends 3.5 percent of its gross domestic product on defense, while some NATO members do not reach one percent.
"We've asked our European partners, for years, for decades to increase more, to pay more for the defense -- to contribute to the alliance. And they haven't stepped up," he said.
"There can't be any free riders. There can't be any discount plans. We're all in this together," he added.
