Forum Topic

UK and choices

"US tells Europe it must take over 'the majority' of NATO's [conventional] defence capabilities by 2027 as Trump shifts American military focus while Putin's war in Ukraine rages on" (Daily Mail 5/12)Will UK be able to afford a share of this large increase in spending and also keep the "Triple Lock"?

David Ainsworth ● 1d10 Comments

"He is just saying that Europe must bear the biggest financial responsibility for NATO because it is at the most threat from Russian aggression."For our share of this "biggest financial responsibility for NATO", should the UK perhaps abandon the Triple Lock?

David Ainsworth ● 5h

So Donald's vision is three autocratic dictatorships - US, Russia, China - so that leaves the EU as the primary surviving democracy, with Canada, UK (unless Farage wins), Australia,  NZ, India (?) hanging onto democracy ...

Michael Ixer ● 5h

Over the top? Blame Orwell, not me.

Richard Carter ● 6h

@Ivonne‘So, to answer your question, the UK should be able to keep the "Triple Lock" unless Trump has another tantrum on how Europe spends its budgets.’Why would Trump ‘have another tantrum’ Ivonne?  He is just saying that Europe must bear the biggest financial responsibility for NATO because it is at the most threat from Russian aggression.  Stating the truth is not having a tantrum; do try to curb your TDS.

Sue Hammond ● 6h

Witty, Richard, but a little over the top. If Trump really considered  Europe a Russian colony, why would the United States contribute so heavily to NATO which exists to oppose the threat from Russia (among  others).

Steven Rose ● 7h

It's becoming clearer, reading Trump's new National Security Strategy (https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/2025-National-Security-Strategy.pdf) that he sees the world as consisting essentially of three blocks: the USA and its colonies (central/south America), Russia and its colonies (the rest of Europe) and China and its colonies (similarly the rest of Asia). For simplicity, maybe we should just refer to them as Oceania, Eurasia and Eastasia.

Richard Carter ● 9h

Ms Holliday'We all know that the US has been contribution around 3.4% annually of its GDP towards NATO.  Its contribution was always the largest because its GDP was, and continues to be, by far the largest.'But its exposure to risk from attacks by Communist Russia was always less than Nato's.Regarding Trump -"And always keep a-hold of NurseFor fear of finding something worse."🤔🫢

John Hawkes ● 12h

Mr Ainsworth"US tells Europe it must take over 'the majority' of NATO's [conventional] defence capabilities by 2027 as Trump shifts American military focus while Putin's war in Ukraine rages on" (Daily Mail 5/12)Will UK be able to afford a share of this large increase in spending and also keep the "Triple Lock"?'Not me!'Does this mean you do not want the UK to increase its defence spending ready to counter what Putin might do or you want us to give up the 'triple lock' ?"I don't know, but I think we should be told" as John Junor used to say in the Sunday Express 😁

John Hawkes ● 12h

Nothing surprises me when it comes to Trump.According to the NATO agreement, countries are supposed to contribute 2% andnually of their GDP.  This percentage was increased in 2024 to at least 3.5% of GDP annually for core defence by 2035.  The members also agreed to increase to 5% annually for a broader definition of defence and security related spending.  We all know that the US has been contribution around 3.4% annually of its GDP towards NATO.  Its contribution was always the largest because its GDP was, and continues to be, by far the largest.USA GDP in 2024 was USD29trillion+ compared to the EU which was around USD19.4 trillion.  The GDP per capita in the USD81,695 compared to the EU's USD60,350.The UK, one of the three main contributors to NATO, already contributes 2.3%, aiming for 2.5% in 2027 and 5% by 2035. So, to answer your question, the UK should be able to keep the "Triple Lock" unless Trump has another tantrum on how Europe spends its budgets.  But the main worry of it all, is Trump's "friendship" with Putin and how he is forfeiting Europe to concentrate on Pacific nations.

Ivonne Holliday ● 13h

Not me!

David Ainsworth ● 1d