NATO

There are 32 countries in NATO and the US contributes $3.6 billion which is 16% of NATO’s budget but that is only part of the story. NATO’s military personnel strength is 3.4 million and the US contributes 1.3 million or 41%. Some countries like Germany send troops but they are not allowed in combat. NATO countries spend less than 2% of their GDP on defense while the US spends 3.7%. Since the founding of NATO in 1949 the US has been the major supporter. Trump is asking that NATO step up its support especially since the Ukraine War started. These countries have been using their defense money savings to provide social services to their people and it will be difficult, if not impossible, for them to reduce these benefits, so it means higher taxes. NATO countries are required to come to the rescue if any country is attacked. When the US was attacked on 9/11 other countries joined the US. The US spent $2.3 trillion plus $530 billion in interest for a total of $2.8 trillion. The other countries added $130 billion or 4% of the total. The US suffered 7,085 deaths while the other countries lost 1,449. The US sent 100,000 troops while the other countries sent 30,000.