Jonathan Beale

And they do not buy this argument that President Putin should be dictating the terms as to which countries can join. That is something they say, that individual countries should be allowed, sovereign nations be allowed to decide for themselves.

And they do not buy this argument that President Putin should be dictating the terms as to which countries can join. That is something they say, that individual countries should be allowed, sovereign nations be allowed to decide for themselves.

There's certain questions as to why NATO hasn't done more here in Ukraine. For example, one of the early cries was NATO close the skies. Do not let Russia fire missiles or operate jets over Ukrainian airspace. Why doesn't NATO just come in and provide air cover for Ukraine? That has not happened and that will not happen. You've got to remember that NATO is an alliance that works on consensus.

There's certain questions as to why NATO hasn't done more here in Ukraine. For example, one of the early cries was NATO close the skies. Do not let Russia fire missiles or operate jets over Ukrainian airspace. Why doesn't NATO just come in and provide air cover for Ukraine? That has not happened and that will not happen. You've got to remember that NATO is an alliance that works on consensus.

So if one country objects to something, then they can't do it. And that is, in a sense, NATO's weakness, that it is reliant on all members agreeing to do something to help another nation. Any attempts at Ukrainian membership... could be vetoed by one country or a few countries.

So if one country objects to something, then they can't do it. And that is, in a sense, NATO's weakness, that it is reliant on all members agreeing to do something to help another nation. Any attempts at Ukrainian membership... could be vetoed by one country or a few countries.

And that is why I think it's highly unlikely that NATO will accept Ukraine as a member of the alliance anytime soon, because there are, you know, significant countries, including the US under Donald Trump, which would not countenance the idea of Ukraine joining NATO.

And that is why I think it's highly unlikely that NATO will accept Ukraine as a member of the alliance anytime soon, because there are, you know, significant countries, including the US under Donald Trump, which would not countenance the idea of Ukraine joining NATO.

So I think there are certain things that alarm European countries from Donald Trump that he said on the campaign trail, as you said, that if you don't pay your way, you don't get protection. Russia can do what the hell it likes to those countries that don't pay their way. There's a misunderstanding as far as Donald Trump is concerned about what NATO is.

So I think there are certain things that alarm European countries from Donald Trump that he said on the campaign trail, as you said, that if you don't pay your way, you don't get protection. Russia can do what the hell it likes to those countries that don't pay their way. There's a misunderstanding as far as Donald Trump is concerned about what NATO is.

He thinks it's like a club and you pay a membership fee. NATO is not that. It sets goals as to how much they should spend on defence, but there is no punishment for If a country doesn't spend that on defence, and as we know, there are countries in the NATO alliance who do not spend 2%, the goal it set out in 2014, on their military.

He thinks it's like a club and you pay a membership fee. NATO is not that. It sets goals as to how much they should spend on defence, but there is no punishment for If a country doesn't spend that on defence, and as we know, there are countries in the NATO alliance who do not spend 2%, the goal it set out in 2014, on their military.

I think it's important to say also that Donald Trump is not the first president. when he was president in 2018, who have criticized Netanyahu for essentially just relying on the U.S., freeloading on the U.S. for their own defenses.

I think it's important to say also that Donald Trump is not the first president. when he was president in 2018, who have criticized Netanyahu for essentially just relying on the U.S., freeloading on the U.S. for their own defenses.

And that was particularly true after the Cold War, that countries stopped spending much on defense, reduced the size of their military capabilities and their militaries. That is slowly changing, but it's been a constant refrain from the U.S. that they are paying for Europe's security.

And that was particularly true after the Cold War, that countries stopped spending much on defense, reduced the size of their military capabilities and their militaries. That is slowly changing, but it's been a constant refrain from the U.S. that they are paying for Europe's security.

Yeah, it took essentially 10 years for the Netherlands when Mark Ritter was the prime minister of the Netherlands to reach that 2% target. Even he admits that it took them too long now. And to some, it does seem a bit rich for him to preach this message of spend more on defence when he was so slow to do it himself. But I think Mark Rutter does have a number of things going his way.

Yeah, it took essentially 10 years for the Netherlands when Mark Ritter was the prime minister of the Netherlands to reach that 2% target. Even he admits that it took them too long now. And to some, it does seem a bit rich for him to preach this message of spend more on defence when he was so slow to do it himself. But I think Mark Rutter does have a number of things going his way.

And that is, as you say, a personal relationship with Donald Trump. So when Donald Trump was criticizing European countries in 2018, not spending enough on defense, he wasn't pointing the finger at Mark Rutter, even though he had every right to. He's pointing the finger mostly Germany.

And that is, as you say, a personal relationship with Donald Trump. So when Donald Trump was criticizing European countries in 2018, not spending enough on defense, he wasn't pointing the finger at Mark Rutter, even though he had every right to. He's pointing the finger mostly Germany.