Trump hält NATO nicht mehr für überholt, aus Gründen

US-Präsident Donald Trump findet die NATO nicht mehr überholt (obsolete). Das kann man als Fortschritt sehen. Ein genauerer Blick auf die Pressekonferenz des US-Präsidenten mit NATO-Generalsekretär Jens Stoltenberg am (gestrigen) Mittwoch (Ortszeit) in Washington scheint mir eher darauf hinzudeuten, dass das kein grundlegender Sinneswandel ist, sondern eher, sagen wir, den Nützlichkeitserwägungen geschuldet: Zum Beispiel beim Thema Syrien könnte die Allianz doch hilfreich sein.

Zumal Trump weiterhin das System der NATO-Finanzierung bewusst nicht verstehen und sein Geld zurück möchte. Nun gut.

Hier ein paar Auszüge aus der Abschrift der Pressekonferenz:

Trump: (…) Sixty-eight years ago this month, not far from where we are gathered today, President Harry Truman spoke at the signing of the North Atlantic Treaty. In the nearly seven decades since Harry Truman spoke those words, the NATO alliance has been the bulwark of international peace and security. NATO allies defeated communism and liberated the captive nations of the Cold War. They secured the longest period of unbroken peace that Europe has ever known. This enduring partnership is rooted out of so many different things, but our common security is always number one, and our common devotion to human dignity and freedom.

(…)
We must also work together to resolve the disaster currently taking place in Syria. We are grateful for the support of NATO members and partners in their condemnation of Assad’s murderous attack using the most horrible weapons. The vicious slaughter of innocent civilians with chemical weapons, including the barbaric killing of small and helpless children and babies, must be forcefully rejected by any nation that values human life. It is time to end this brutal civil war, defeat terrorists, and allow refugees to return home.In facing our common challenges, we must also ensure that NATO members meet their financial obligations and pay what they owe. Many have not been doing that. The Secretary General and I agree that other member-nations must satisfy their responsibility to contribute 2 percent of GDP to defense. If other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on the United Sates to make up the difference, we will all be much more secure, and our partnership will be made that much stronger.
The secretary general and I had a productive discussion about what more NATO can do in the fight against terrorism. I complained about that a long time ago and they made a change, and now they do fight terrorism. I said it was obsolete. It’s no longer obsolete.
It’s my hope that NATO will take on an increased role in supporting our Iraqi partners in their battle against ISIS. (…)
Every generation has strived to adapt the NATO alliance to meet the challenges of their times. And during my visit to Brussels this Spring, which I look very much forward to, we will work together to do the same. We must not be trapped by the tired thinking that so many have, but apply new solutions to face new circumstances, and that’s all throughout the world.

Und auf eine Nachfrage nach dem Zwei-Prozent-Ziel der NATO, die ursprünglich an Stoltenberg gerichtet war:

Question: Secretary General, how long do you think it will take you to persuade the other European countries to burden-share? And what are you going to do to persuade them?
Mr. President, could I ask you, do you think it’s…
Trump: I like that question. (LAUGHTER)
(…)
And I did ask about all the money that hasn’t been paid over the years — will that money be coming back? We’ll be talking about that.

(Foto: Sie können Händeschütteln – Stoltenberg, l., und Trump – NATO Photo)