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Denmark to up military spending, PM says after Trump calla
Reuters ^ | 11/16/2016 | Reuters

Posted on 11/17/2016 9:46:02 AM PST by MaxistheBest

COPENHAGEN, Nov 16 (Reuters) - Denmark is ready to increase military and national security spending, Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said on Wednesday after a phone conversation with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

Trump criticised NATO allies during campaigning for the White House, saying they did not pay enough for their own defence and suggested the United States was paying a disproportionate amount.

Denmark spends about 1.2 percent of GDP on defence. NATO has set its members a target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defence.

"The government is setting the stage for increasing spending on military and national security," Rasmussen said in a statement after the phone call.

Rasmussen, whose one-party government only holds 34 of 179 seats in parliament, called the conversation with Trump "friendly and constructive" and stressed that Denmark was a close ally of the United States.

He noted that Denmark was contributing to the fight against the Islamic State militant group in Syria and Iraq.

"We need a strong United States that will head the free world. I feel convinced that the United States will also in the future take on this role," Rasmussen said.


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: nato; trump
This is great news...remember when the MSM, RINOs and Clinton/Obama/Kerry jumped on Trump for talking about NATO funding.....Denmark has been one of the many laggards in funding NATO up to their commitment...Denmark's GDP is $300 billion, so this is a $2.5 billion increase.

Another BIG win for Trump!!!

Next up Germany...Trump can use this to shame them

1 posted on 11/17/2016 9:46:02 AM PST by MaxistheBest
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To: MaxistheBest

All of these countries are at 1.2% because that is what Germany is spending. Could be some fireworks there. LOL.


2 posted on 11/17/2016 9:48:20 AM PST by lodi90 (President Trump - Has a nice ring to it!)
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To: MaxistheBest

Tired of winning yet?


3 posted on 11/17/2016 9:49:46 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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To: MaxistheBest
This is the best sort of out come. NATO/Japan/RoK quietly raise military spend and we don't spike the ball.

Next goal wrt NATO...increase alliance's focus on terrorism.

4 posted on 11/17/2016 9:50:48 AM PST by Red Dog #1
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To: MaxistheBest

Leadership works.


5 posted on 11/17/2016 9:57:07 AM PST by Uncle Sam 911
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To: MaxistheBest
Trump did what he said he would do: he would create leverage and then negotiate. He created leverage by implying he might walk away from NATO, and the euros have to be crapping themselves because they have lived for decades secure in the knowledge that if it came to a fight, it would be American blood spilled to keep their homes safe. Without NATO it would be theirs spilled and since they have virtually no miliataries that are anything more than symbolic, it would be buckets of their blood spilt, right before the politicans all hang. That image in their mind is leverage.

To avert that, they are calling up to pledge whatever Trump wants.

Not yet tired of winning, still want more!

6 posted on 11/17/2016 10:03:40 AM PST by pepsi_junkie (ui)
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To: Red Dog #1

This is the best sort of out come. NATO/Japan/RoK quietly raise military spend and we don’t spike the ball.


It’s all chump change with small countries like Denmark who are not front line states. What matters is the big countries. Germany, GB, etc. I read the Royal Navy is retiring their Harpoon missiles and will not have any missiles on their ships! No indication yet from Germany they will seriously invest in their military. Etc. We are not out of the woods here, IMO.


7 posted on 11/17/2016 10:04:39 AM PST by lodi90 (President Trump - Has a nice ring to it!)
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To: MaxistheBest

“We need a strong United States that will head the free world. I feel convinced that the United States will also in the future take on this role,” Rasmussen said.”

Well now that the moving truck is pulling up to the White House we just may.


8 posted on 11/17/2016 10:08:01 AM PST by Gamecock (Gun owner. Christian. Pro-American. Pro Law and Order. I am in the basket of deplorables.)
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To: lodi90

The UK is actually over spending along with the US; only the US, UK, Greece, Poland and Estonia are in compliance. The rest are sucking off of our dollars....Germany only 1.2%, we cover their butts while they provide their citizens with cradle to grave financial security.

Look at this chart, it’s a disgrace...we have a long way to go and Trump needs to (and will) bring the hammer down!!


9 posted on 11/17/2016 10:10:56 AM PST by MaxistheBest
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To: MaxistheBest; Rummyfan
Lots of people jumped on Trump but former SecDef and US Ambassador to NATO was all in favour of Trump's statements. "Strangely enough" (not really) the linked interview was never commented on in the rest of MSM. Well, well....

Donald Rumsfeld on On The Record with Greta Van Susteren 6.22.16

10 posted on 11/17/2016 10:11:03 AM PST by ScaniaBoy (Part of the Right Wing Research & Attack Machine)
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To: MaxistheBest

http://www.defenseone.com/politics/2015/06/nato-members-defense-spending-two-charts/116008/


11 posted on 11/17/2016 10:11:18 AM PST by MaxistheBest
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To: MaxistheBest

The UK is actually over spending along with the US; only the US, UK, Greece, Poland and Estonia are in compliance. The rest are sucking off of our dollars....Germany only 1.2%, we cover their butts while they provide their citizens with cradle to grave financial security.


Yep. UK is one of the best and they will not have missiles on their ships! NATO is in a sad, sad state. I read a while back that Germany is actually fluffing their 1.2% figure. A lot of that includes pensions, day care, etc. The real number for Germany is more like .9%.


12 posted on 11/17/2016 10:23:12 AM PST by lodi90 (President Trump - Has a nice ring to it!)
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To: lodi90
Agreed your broader point...but still a good start before Trump even takes office.

BTW, GB is one of the few allies meeting their 1% obligation.

13 posted on 11/17/2016 10:31:49 AM PST by Red Dog #1
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