First president Donald Trump The midnight hammer dropped on the nuclear program of Iran, thanks to the B-2-bombers. Then Trump dropped the hammer on NATO four days later. With threats, charm and the momentum of victory, Trump pushed NATO European allies to promise 5% of their GDP to defend -the biggest jump since 1949. President Trump achieved “something that no US president could be done in decades,” said NATO -Secretary General General.
Every US president since Dwight D. Eisenhower has urged NATO to invest more in collective defense, who called “wall of safety” as Eisenhower called it. Trump actually did it.
Here is the catch. Despite all the exuberance, Trump’s success in The Hague will not amount to a hill of beans last week, unless his administration speeds up American weapon production. Of course, NATO moment was historic, but the commitment is high. Russia is the inn and China would like nothing more than to stretch the American troops and get a lead in the Pacific.
NATO leader praises Trump for ‘decisive action’ on Iran
View Russia. Putin flows 1500 tanks, 3,000 armored vehicles and 200 Iskander ballistic and cruise missiles a year, NATO’s supreme connected commander -general Christopher Cavoli, army of the United States, told the congress this spring. In Ukraine, Russia has lost an estimated 3,000 tanks, 9,000 armored vehicles, 13,000 artillery systems and more than 400 air defense systems in the past year – but is on pace to replace them all, “said Cavoli. Cavoli, on the other hand, said the US “only produces around 135 tanks per year.” In addition, Russia produces 250,000 artillery scales per month. Yes, per month.
Nevertheless, NATO was eager. In 2014, European allies spent an average of 1.43% of GDP on Defense. Last year it was only 2.02%. There were exceptions. Rockster Poland rose from 2.7% of GDP in 2022 to 4.7% in 2025. Germany has assigned a one -off extra $ 100 billion to replace outdated equipment. But the alliance as a whole still had to act.
You can see why Trump had to shake the base of the Alliance, go so far to threaten the Association of Article 5 with an attack on one member an attack on everyone.
It all turned out to be good. “I left here and said,” These people really love their countries. It’s not a rise. ” And we are here to help them protect their country, “said Trump after NATO meeting.
Spurring NATO will only work if the Trump team also takes these three steps.
Acceleration of the latest Abrams tanks.
Trump saved the Abrams tanks from virtual extinction during his first term. The newest M1E3 version of the army is lighter and has been adapted for the lessons of Ukraine, including advanced sensors, autonomy and modular armor, is designed to protect top attack against drones. “We are going to have armored on the modern battlefield,” said army chef Van Staf -General Randy George in a recent podcast -interview and George accelerates the delivery of new Abrams tanks. Why? Tanks supported by Airpower can scare a Russian line with the 60-Mile Suwalki gorge near Poland and Lithuania, sometimes called the “dangerous place on earth”, for if the Russians could cut the locks and sting the balltics and sting NATO in war.
Repair the Patriot deficiency.
Given the preference of Russia for lobbing rockets in cities, patriots are essential to keep the alliance together against Putin’s provocations. Patriot air defense batteries have shot the Russian Kinzhal KH47M2 -Hypersonic missiles. They are so popular that Norway and Sweden are chipping to pay for the new Patriots of Romania, and President Volodmr Zelensky asked to buy 10 patriot batteries for Ukraine. The problem is that patriot batteries are scarce. The Netherlands gave the them to Ukraine, and that NATO bondmate is still waiting for a filling. Think of the two American patriot batteries that launched “a set” hit-to-kill under-creators to defend the air base of Al Udeid, were actually drawn from their normal locations in Japan and South Korea, according to chairman of the joint Staff Chefs General Daniel Caine.
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Cut export bureaucracy.
It is shocking that so many American allies are waiting for poor deliveries. The relaxed foreign military sales process is traming through the Pentagon, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the trade and probably Hop on the Old Town Trolley DC Tour bus before weapon systems actually go abroad. Waiting times can extend for years. (Just ask Taiwan.) NATO will never get the equipment it needs, unless Trump cleans up the swamp of the export bureaucracy that keeps deliveries against front line -Navo bondmen such as Poland. So go on a number of executive orders as quickly as possible.
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American leadership is back and NATO leaders have lifted it. The presidency of Joe Biden was not strategically active for NATO leaders. You could see something that would see almost exuberance of NATO Secretary -General Rutte as he welcomed Trump. London and other NATO captures have been within the reach of Iran’s ballistic missiles for years, and the Allies were delighted with Trump’s decision to remove the nuclear threat.
US Armor, Airpower and Command and Control are still the beating heart of the military power of NATO. Stringing NATO up to 5% is the only way to keep American troops flexible enough to deter the global threat that the China-Russia axis is.
