Washington, DC: Tammy Bruce, a spokesperson for the US State Department, denied rumors that the Trump administration is looking to cut down on US support for NATO.
Bruce said during a news conference on Tuesday (local time) that the United States is still committed to NATO and is working to make the military alliance a deterrent rather than to support, fight, or finance conflicts. “NATO was designed to be a group of organizations that would prevent bad actors from doing bad things,” she said.
Bruce said, “That’s again, that’s from a story that is looking at a memo that was leaked or not from a plan that is a suggestion,” in response to a question about whether the Trump administration is thinking about cutting money for the UN and NATO. That being said, I can tell you that the term “eliminate” really worries me. For that meeting with the Secretary, I traveled to NATO. The fact that the US Secretary of State and President both reaffirmed our full commitment to NATO was the most significant message that everyone there cared about, regardless of every meeting, every moment, every time on camera, every bilateral meeting, and every conversation with the secretary general.
“Now, another thing we want from our commitment is to ensure and support the ability of the NATO member states to fulfill the alliance’s deterrent duty. It is not intended to support, aid in, finance, or otherwise improve the situation while conflicts are raging. NATO was designed to be a group of organizations that would prevent bad actors from committing crimes since doing so would be very detrimental to them. Furthermore, it is now evident that certain countries must step up, share the load, and raise their military budgets—not because we are cruel, but rather because we are dedicated to NATO. Additionally, NATO must be what it has been said to be, what was first anticipated, and what it aspires to be,” she said.
“Couldn’t be further from the truth,” Bruce added, referring to claims that the department may cut off money for NATO as “fear-mongering” that “understandably upsets people.” When Trump announces the budget measure and submits it to Congress, she said, there will be a lot to talk about.
“The number of nations increasing their budget commitment to defense, the recognition that it was an important thing without exception,” Tammy Bruce said. “I have to tell you that this fact is acknowledged at NATO.” And the narrative of cutting off financing to NATO couldn’t be farther from the truth when we consider that. This is about strengthening NATO, making it—dare I say it again—great. However, that’s when it starts to resemble fearmongering, which naturally aggravates people.
“However, as I said in the last review we had on foreign assistance, certain things will change. This does not imply that we have altered our commitment to anything, but it may seem different. that possibly the United States’ contribution will decrease and NATO will become stronger if other countries do, in reality, band together and increase their commitment and participation. Therefore, I believe that protecting one another, being truthful, and coming up with solutions to problems are all parts of what a family does. That narrative is based on the same conjecture that has been generated by other papers that are being circulated, which is completely untrue, and it is unhelpful to comment on whatever figures they may have. When President Trump presents and submits his budget package to Congress, there will be a lot to talk about,” she said.
Tammy Bruce’s remarks follow reports that the Trump administration may cut the State Department’s funding by almost half in the upcoming fiscal year, according to an internal memo detailing a downsizing plan that department leaders are seriously considering, as reported by The New York Times, which cited two officials.
The document suggests cutting the budget for supporting foreign peacekeeping operations, cutting down on educational and cultural exchanges within the department, including the Fulbright Program, and cutting off almost all financing for international organizations like the UN and NATO.
Additionally, the paper suggests cutting more than half of the money allocated to global health and humanitarian aid initiatives. The document, dated April 10, did not specify if US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had approved the reduction, according to the New York Times. Furthermore, it was unclear if Congress would take the suggested cutbacks seriously.
“The White House is expected to send Congress a budget proposal this spring that is similar to what the memo outlines in an effort to press lawmakers to formalize reducing efforts that are already being conducted,” The New York Times reported, citing a US official familiar with the department’s review.
