Part 4/11:
The election of Donald Trump in 2017 marked a turning point in US-European relations regarding defense. Trump’s administration openly criticized European NATO partners for not meeting their defense spending obligations and reiterated the need for countries to invest at least 2% of their GDP in defense according to NATO guidelines. By 2024, thanks in part to this pressure, 23 out of 32 NATO countries met this target, reflecting a notable shift in attitude towards budgetary commitments.