Trump questions why US must commit to defending all NATO allies

[Rob and Cheryl 56]

44 minutes ago, Boiler said:

How does the US pay for Germanys defense? Because if that is not true, then the wheels will fall off the elegance. 

[Boiler 45,515]

Have you been to Germany?

[Unidentified 2,930]

https://www.npr.org/2018/07/11/628137185/fact-check-trumps-claims-on-nato-spending

[Rob and Cheryl 56]

57 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Have you been to Germany?

Yes, relatives in the Bremen and Munich, did a tour there and several business trips. I never learned the language though. The point of your question?

[Boiler 45,515]

You never noticed the US military presence?

[Rob and Cheryl 56]

5 minutes ago, Boiler said:

You never noticed the US military presence?

I was there, and your point?

[Boiler 45,515]

Trying to point out the error of your comment.

[Rob and Cheryl 56]

5 minutes ago, Boiler said:

Trying to point out the error of your comment.

You are maintaining that our spending in Europe outstrips Germany or are you expecting them to match us globally?

[Unidentified 2,930]

How/why is the US paying for German defense?

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

14 hours ago, Rob and Cheryl said:

How does the US pay for Germanys defense? Because if that is not true, then the wheels will fall off the elegance. 

You know we pay for those bases being there right, you don't think that Germany is paying us for those bases do you?

[RLA 323]

2 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

You know we pay for those bases being there right, you don't think that Germany is paying us for those bases do you?

(1) Those bases aren’t there to defend Germany.  That hasn’t been their purpose for 25 years, and they’ve not been needed for that for 25 years.  Nowadays, they’re used to facilitate NATO military cooperation and to help project American military power across Europe, the Middle East, and North Africa.  

 

(2) In 2009, Germany contributed $0.6 billion per year to American troops being stationed in Germany. Source: The Rand Corporation. 

[Unidentified 2,930]

21 hours ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

You know we pay for those bases being there right, you don't think that Germany is paying us for those bases do you?

They are US bases, not German so of course, the US is paying for them. But they are not part of the German defense so no, the US is not paying for the German defense. Just like the US is not paying for the defense of Norway while they are having troops in Norway. 

 

It's called being a part of NATO. 

[Cyberfx1024 7,980]

30 minutes ago, Unidentified said:

They are US bases, not German so of course, the US is paying for them. But they are not part of the German defense so no, the US is not paying for the German defense. Just like the US is not paying for the defense of Norway while they are having troops in Norway. 

 

It's called being a part of NATO. 

Of course I know they are US bases and not German bases. Some of my coworkers have lived on those bases so I am well aware of them. Actually we are paying for the German bases because Germany gets money from those bases and also the economic activity of those bases help stimulate the local economy of the surrounding area. During the cold war we were paying for the defense of Germany against the Warsaw Pact, and now we are using those bases to help expand our prescience around the world.

 

Actually Trump's biggest issue with NATO is exactly the same issue I have with it.... A large number of countries within NATO do not pay the amounts that they are supposed to be paying per the NATO agreement. Those countries are just allowing the USA to foot the bill for almost everything.  

 

 

[Unidentified 2,930]

1 hour ago, Cyberfx1024 said:

Of course I know they are US bases and not German bases. Some of my coworkers have lived on those bases so I am well aware of them. Actually we are paying for the German bases because Germany gets money from those bases and also the economic activity of those bases help stimulate the local economy of the surrounding area. During the cold war we were paying for the defense of Germany against the Warsaw Pact, and now we are using those bases to help expand our prescience around the world.

 

Actually Trump's biggest issue with NATO is exactly the same issue I have with it.... A large number of countries within NATO do not pay the amounts that they are supposed to be paying per the NATO agreement. Those countries are just allowing the USA to foot the bill for almost everything.  

 

 

4

 Apart from what countries pay you also have to look at the benefits of having a NATO alliance. For example, the US pretty much begged Iceland to become a member of NATO because of their strategic location. Even though Iceland doesn't even have a military and therefore does not pay anything to NATO. 

 

So yeah, could NATO be improved? Absolutely. Will the US ever leave NATO? Doubt it. They would lose all the strategic places to go if **** hits the fan. Plus, I doubt many of the NATO countries would continue to buy US military equipment if they are no longer a member. Doubt Norway would have bought those F35's if that was the case considering they got other options... 

 

But then, there are also countries that are not members of NATO who is still sort of part of NATO that probably should start paying for it... Like Sweden. I do not get why we are participating in NATO exercises but we're not members. Though I do think that is kind of unfair I really hope they grant us help with the forest fires we currently have. We do get help some several EU countries with helicopters and some airplanes but having a big Hercules water bombing would be pretty nice right now...

[jg121783 3,915]

It's funny. For years the left was opposed to us being the world's police force. Now because of Trump derangement syndrome they suddenly change their stance.