The total debt of the countries that the United States owes is estimated in the range of 10 to 18 billion dollars. But Amos Yaron, director general of the Israeli Ministry of Defense, offered a security assistance package for AWACS and Hercules, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, the Nautilus missile defense system, and more than $ 17 billion that all NATO members could pay. Thus, Israel is among those who owe the United States.
Israel debt
For many years, the United States provided Israel with $ 3 billion annually and regularly supplied arms and periodic loan guarantees, making it the most expensive dependent country in Washington. All this was supposed to help secure Tel Aviv in an extreme region.
In 1976, the world began to improve. But instead of reducing the amount of funds coming from the United States, US President Jimmy Carter agreed to increase it. Egypt was defeated, and help to Israel continued.
Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) also became American dependents when they reached an agreement with Tel Aviv. Now Israel and Syria began the dance of peace, and began to often remind of duty. But the current American administration will not leave alone those who owe the United States.
If Israel returns the Golan Heights, it will need ten billion dollars to relocate and eight billion more to move its bases.
In general, some analysts expect the total cost of peace for all of Israel’s neighbors to be up to $ 100 billion. This includes direct assistance, debt relief, private investment guarantees, water projects and assistance in compensating for the resettlement of Palestinian refugees. The largest share of this amount will, of course, be pulled from America.
Israeli arguments and peace in East Asia
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak recently explained to US senators that this will advance US strategic interests. According to him, a peace agreement, even if it costs money, will give more than any war.
However, Israel and Syria have not fought since 1973. The question is who benefits from a formal peace agreement. Peace on the Korean peninsula is also provided in part at the expense of the United States, because Japan and South Korea are often included in the list of those who owe the United States.
It should be recognized that foreign aid does not contribute to economic development. How much does Japan owe the United States, and how much should it return to the Americans
Debts for financial support
Funding for Egypt was almost completely wasted. Money for Israel subsidized one of the fastest growing economies on Earth. The abuse and waste of PLO assistance is a pandemic: in 1997, $ 323 million, a third of the Palestinian Authority’s budget, simply disappeared.
Thus, the only real reason for the infusion of funds is the bribing of Arab and Israeli governments to establish peace. But who has the greatest interest in signing the contract? Israel and the Arab states or the USA?
Camp David's original agreements were related to the Cold War. Perhaps it was worth the money to secure Egypt's departure from the Soviet Union. But Israel remained on the list of those who owe the United States.
Dear Middle East
Although the Clinton administration did not seem to notice, the Cold War was over. Thus, the benefits of the Middle East are dubious. This no longer applies to the widespread geopolitical struggle involving the United States. How much does the US need other countries? According to some estimates, this number reaches billions of dollars.
In such a world, let the countries that benefit most from the world pay for it. Obviously, Syria does not deserve a penny. How many countries do the US need? Apparently, all NATO countries. Now, it seems, only Trump knows how much money the world owes to the United States. And willingly talks about it.
Israel Responsibilities
According to some American right-wingers, Israel should bear the cost of moving military facilities. Although Tel Aviv cannot take its safety for granted, it has overwhelming military superiority against all its neighbors. The answer to the question which countries owe the United States is quite simple: everything in whose economy America has invested and to whom it has issued loans.
The world with Damascus should allow it to selectively reduce its defense budget, money that can be used to acquire new weapons and adjust its military situation along the Syrian border.
In any case, US taxpayers should not be on the hook. Indeed, the United States should use this opportunity to review the entire funding program in the Middle East. When the world changes, so does US policy.
Peace in the Middle East is good. But the real beneficiaries of the world are those countries that make peace. They must pay the price received.
NATO debt
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the North Atlantic Alliance is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 North American and European countries, which was formed in 1949 in response to the Second World War. According to Donald Trump, Germany owes the United States for assistance in defense.
According to the NATO website, the goal of the alliance is to contain Soviet expansionism; the prohibition of the revival of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent; promoting European political integration. For NATO to work, member countries must ensure the financial stability of their armed forces. To this end, NATO partners have agreed on an official budget price or standard that determines how each country should contribute. This standard was and is 2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of each country. The United States and its NATO allies are currently debating whether all members bear their fair share of the cost burden.
American help
Historically, the United States has provided the largest share of NATO's military power. For decades, the debate about whether this arrangement is fair is waning and disappearing. For example, in the 2011 New York Times editorial entitled Tell the Truth with NATO, former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the United States can no longer afford to disproportionately large part of NATO’s fighting and pay the same while Europe is cutting back on its defense budgets and taking advantage of collective security for free. Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, is particularly concerned about this issue. Since his election, Trump has repeatedly and publicly complained that NATO allies are not paying fairness. He argues that the majority are free riders who reap the benefits of peace and security provided by the United States military.
Many people care about how much money Russia owes the United States. The fact is that America gave loans to our country in the era of the dashing 90s. But all the debts on these loans were written off by Bill Clinton, because Russia owes nothing to the Americans.
European defense
NATO was created to protect Europe from military attacks from other countries. To become part of this block, participants must meet certain requirements. How many countries do the US need? According to Trump's logic, all NATO members. But now is not about that.
Alliance candidates must first have a secure and stable democratic governance system. In addition, they must have good relations with their neighbors and demonstrate a commitment to the rule of law and human rights. Finally, they must provide their armed forces for collective defense, and the country must bring its budget legislation in line with NATO standards.
The modern caricature illustrated by Dana Summers, which the reader sees above, first appeared on the US News website as a daily cartoon on May 31, 2017. In this picture, Donald Trump meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Brussels to discuss NATO and the amount of German debt. Germany makes (or does not) contribute to NATO. The caricature is a meeting that Donald Trump held with NATO allies to discuss each country's common contribution to collective defense. This meeting took place in Brussels on May 25 and was dedicated to new security conditions, including the Alliance's role in the fight against terrorism, the importance of increasing defense spending and a more equitable burden sharing.
List of countries
Total, according to Trump and some conservatives, the following countries should America:
- Germany.
- Japan.
- South Korea.
- Baltic countries.
- France.
- Italy.
- Israel.
- Egypt.
- Saudi Arabia.
Trump Requirements
An article was published in the Times of New York under the headline “Trump Says NATO Allies Are Not Paying Their Share.” It's true?" The release of the publication went on sale the day after the meeting in Brussels. The US President complained that NATO members must finally contribute their fair share and fulfill their financial obligations, since 23 of the 28 member countries still do not pay what they have to pay for their defense. Trump believes that the United States was faithful to the financial agreement they entered into as a member of NATO, but says other NATO allies should invest more of their GDP in NATO.
Summers' caricature reflects Trump's demand that other countries pay more as part of their obligations to NATO. In the cartoon, Trump looks disappointed, as if he was waiting for money. In the figure, the hat symbolizes the foundation into which, as expected, Angela Merkel will contribute money to NATO. In this political cartoon, Merkel also symbolizes other European allies that Trump disappointed. Merkel's expression in the caricature is as if she is also upset that President Trump is asking for money, and also because she does not believe that Germany and other European allies owe this money to NATO. In short, the cartoon reflects the mutual discontent and confusion of the Allies about justice and freedom of movement.
Outdated union
Since NATO does not have legislative power, its members cannot be punished for not investing as much money as the United States. However, the political caricature of Summers expresses Trump's expectation that members will keep their word and pay more if one of the European Allied countries enters the war or needs protection. In fact, having an alliance with these countries means believing that they will do what they agree to do. According to Trump, other countries are not fully implementing their agreements on NATO. That is, they do not make financial contributions reflecting their GDP. Trump is upset and feels that the United States cannot trust its NATO allies. This invalidates the purpose of the union. Of the 28 NATO countries, the United States pays the most and provides the most protection. Other NATO countries must accept the same degree of responsibility and loyalty as the United States.
