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Whitaker tells senators NATO must do more; proposes 5% GDP defense target for allies
Summary
Matthew Whitaker, the nominee for U.S. permanent representative to NATO, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that NATO remains vital but allies must increase defense spending and modernize forces; he urged a minimum 5% of GDP defense spending target and pledged to press allies on interoperability and production.
Matthew Whitaker, appearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee as the president’s nominee to be the U.S. permanent representative to NATO, framed his mission as driving allied commitment to higher defense spending and increased production and recruitment.
Whitaker told the committee that NATO is “more than ever relevant” and warned that U.S. taxpayers “cannot continue to foot Europe's bill without dramatic investment from Europe.” He proposed a contentious benchmark during his testimony, saying allies “must first commit to spending…
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