This agreement was made years later. Spending nt defense level was made in 2007 at the regus summit, ip formal agreement to spend at least 2 gdp on defense spending. This was a decrease, pack in been 3 , because of end of the cold war, they downht the threat his gone and the alliance could have less defense spending. 2 of their own defense spending . Guest absolutely. Establishes the criteria and nato secretary general produces a report and tabalate what the country members spend on different parts of military spending, and things pension like that and give a report. Host how much money dot itself tosend to nato fund nato, how does that compare o what they are expected to spend on the military . Guest that is a separate budget, common funding pays for evere infrastructure, integrated command, there are three funds for that, one thing least well known is that about that funding for the alliance itself comes from european allies. United states has a cap, we pay 22 to 23 of overall funding for itself. E the rest of what we talk about, spend 2 of gdp on our own National Defense, does. S what each member host why 2 . The it was decrease from 3 figure. 2 , they felt lower threat level 2000s, the alliance have certainly minimal standards and to do ities to continue deterrence in europe. The United States military of gdp on National Defense spending. There is only five other 2 target hat hit that nato has set out. Why is it so hard for countries target he guest it is not necessarily countries have different priorities. There is ult thing, different threat perception and differences in responsibilities. Fur european allies, their main on European Security in their country. The United States is a super power, global responsibilities, our National Defense goes not just for defense of north for the bases so in europe and also bases and in pacific, middle east and south america. We have a robust nuclear force, than any allies have. Host President Trump addressed funding for nato when secretary general of nato was in washington. Had to a bit of what he say. President trump we agree, other must satisfy their responsibility to defense. E 2 of gdp to if other countries pay their fair share instead of relying on up theted states to make difference, we will all be much more secure. And our partnership will be made that much stronger. Host what did you make of that meeting between the secretary president . D the guest very important meeting, this is the first meeting headtohead between the new president and the secretary general of the alliance. That ght the words President Trump used in that quote were very timely and the stent, exactly sentiments every american president has been expressing ince truman, especially president bush and president obama that we want our allys to fulfill commitments they have to the alliance, but these are commitments made to the alliance of themselves, their spending f. Everyone meets their commitments, this makes the alliance more safer. Host were talking about Jorge Benitez of the Atlantic Council, if you have questions or about the United States commit to nato, some issues funding weve o been talking about, republicans 2027488001. Democrats, 2027488000. Independents, 2027488002. Can start dial nothing now, as they are doing that, the used, someident trump other words in the meeting were it isd nato was obsolete, no longer obsolete, what did other nato mean to members watching the United States commitment . Guest it caused a lot of and confusion within the alliance, when during the president ial campaign president he considered the alliance obsolete. This was the United States is powerful member of the alliance, when the leader of the country says Something Like it raises doubts about our commitments. The fact hes changed his tune, words, ed his communicates he has become more ducated, more well informed about nato and the value it does produce for the United States national security. Of our Main National security assets, alliance of 27 to r democracys willing defend us and one another and in the democracys1, over ed truths missions the United States and contributed troops to afghanistan. These are tangible results weve allies and i think it was historic changing the language. I have written about, his language has changed, his tone and priorities have not. His main priority remains he meet theies to pay and financial responsibilities they have, but the big question sor else what . How much is he willing to stake if they dont meet the requirements, what would the United States do under President Trump . Host talked about other nato Members Meeting commitment. Stronger, something he focused on more than past president . To get other d nato members to meet the 2 voice ast in as strong donald trump has . Guest every administration has convince the alliance to do so, privately and this ly, president s said directly and on the record to nato allies. A couple interviews gave, President Trump asked if he article v, every ally considers attack on any attack on itself and we when rovide assistance, u. S. Asked never made by american president before and that showed we were our assistance and defense of allys and saying our whether they on paid financial responsibilities or not. Host talking with Jorge Benitez council, lantic director of nato source. What is nato source . Source is website and twitter account, we provide daily information and analysis is taking place in the worlds most powerful alliance. Most popular source for on the internet about nato. Ost phone numbers, republicans, 2027488001. Democrats, 2027488000. Independents, 2027488002. Virgilnirvine, h kentucky, republican. Good morning. Caller yes, thank you for taking my call. Good morning. I would like to say that i think interestbe in the best of our country and of our withdraw from e nato altogether and if we kick u. N. Out of the United States. We are a sovereign nation, our doesary and our government not under any circumstances need to be under the direction or of any thirdparty global world organization. You. Host your thought . Guest thank you for the question. Feel the same way you do, i disagree. The value torically, has shown alliances, it is important that if we want to with peace, with stability, i continuing is important for all democratss to world, that safer is what nato does. Not so much the United States has to follow guidance or rules nato, we are in the lead. We are one of the 28 members of sits on the ssador north atlantic kouns nil brussels. Does what we and other National Members decides to do. Make us do to can anything we dont want to do, we and e best benefits for us Derive Health and cooperation from our allies on this. Morning, line for republicans. Kaekt my name is charles, i think the way we make up the difference, we work 20 years longer and we dont have paid healthcare and that is how come pay for the defense for the rests of the world. It is not a smart bargain and i americans are smarter than this and i do not forrstand why were falling it. Not a smart bargain nato. Guest i continuing is a very bargain. Other allies pay 75 of the nato their. We have access to militarys, allies are most capable and technologies on the planet. They come to us when we need their help, we go to them when technologies on the planet. We need their help. Military million personnel in the army. It make its stronger, least the y anybody will attack United States, we have 27 allies. Hrough nato, we have security that is cheaper and stronger than anything the United States itself. By you worked on nato issues for a time, in the federal government, as well. I worked in the federal government, state department and pentagon. In the pont gone, secretary of to director stant of nato policy. I worked on these several years. Do in the e used to government, the pentagon would provide a document spelling detail how much the nited states was spend og nato and how much others were paying. The we talked earlier in program about that vote that happened yesterday in turkey, nato has a question, new dictatorship in turkey, how will nato struggle with that . Guest i think the vote is very. Come out and raised concern about the legality of it and how fair it was. Alliancehe rest of the will emphasize concerns about president is taking on this. I think this was very difficult vote and i think the reason and the Nato Alliance have been strained of late. Apa government, that is currently in power has critical the eu and nato certain and playing United States officials, some turkish prosecutors have called for investigations of u. S. Including former head of intelligence and center schumer for what they allege to role in the coup attempt against turkey. Alliance se of the made for a bumpy ride so far. Ne strength of the alliance, there have been difficult times and relationships, crews in turk portugal, ce and difficult at times, but through tried to e Alliance Preserve and maintain democratic toue and push the government turn to democracy and fair election. Ever left ny country nato . Guest not political alliance. Left the military part, but stayed within the alliance and certain years, greece left command. Tary they both realize the benefit of coming back and returned and fullfledged member now. Host any concern about turkey nato . G guest i dont think there is concern. Government can be critical of the alliance, but realizes nato is his best friend region. Turkey is in the middle east, basically with alliance, right nato missile Patriot Missile battery necessary turkey helping with lies Missile Defense. If turkey withdraw from the this ce, it would lose cooperation. Good julius roberts, morning. Caller good morning. Holiday . Our yours was, too. Caller i want to change the conversation over toward lets say people peaceful coexistence. Assess this on side, the yours. Caller i want to change the onversation over toward fact that the persons name youre working with right there s spelled a certain way and pronounced jorge, you keep calling him george, that is fine it, but the fact people identify themselves in a are in way and then transferred over, such as an example, the americans that were many, many years ago, their name was changed to okay. S, i dont appreciate that because past, way back american. Let me say about peace. When talk about peace, only way natotain peace and through is to especially do away with all this nuclear stuff. Lot of money involved n nuclear stuff, but highly dangerous for everybody. Name or call it a pissing contest as example, what really like to say, right now we can have a big turnaround to korea because tare so pointed for what they want to do. Since Nuclear Weapons are so danger sxous bad for everybody, trying to ocus on save the planet. Host a lot there. Benitez, you want to start there . Guest i am a major believer in i support the alliance, the fact of what is it an alliance of, what do members consist of . Members are all democracys, the nato and the heart of the value. They defend themselves physically from military threats defend democratic values. Defend fair elections, control military, they defend human rights, and when there are of the ers, the part process to become a new member, formerly author tearian, all the countries had path to become more democratized and exhibit and trans nd demonstrate atlantic values before they accept it in the alliance. Defends values and expands zone of peace, new members join comes with new partners, these countries become democratic and have these type of values. Virginia. Alexandria, good morning. Caller good morning. Thank you to the guest for coming on cspan this morning. Is regarding the future of nato, this past week i listening to a speak at secretary general of nato and he was discussing the future nato, specifically to ukraine and georgia. Clearly id out pretty if georgia and ukraine espectively are able to meet certainments of a principles within those does that say or the future of turkey in the let of yesterdays referendum and concerns that is bring nothing excellent question. Nato enlarge sxment new membership path is key issue for alliance. Nato have opendoor policy tis open to nyone, even russia. And in fact, there is a strong, is a nato partner, it cooperates and has dialogue with alliance. Ukraine, georgia and other countries are off nato partners. The difference is georgia tarted a membership path, seeki seeking right now, this year, in of the big announcements the last few weeks, the Senate President truck members tis just 12 now 28. 29. Re will be i believe 25 National Legislatures ratified montinegos membership. Again, no one can force membership on every country, can vote on who becomes new members of the alliance. On, montenego will be the newest member. Opendoor ce has policy so new countrys with revenue can join and share in the protection. Illinois, line f for. Pelosi about nancy taking a group of congressmen in to italy to 6, alliance. He nato ive watched her trips to italy for the past four years, seems every break she conjures up something to go get i free trip or i dont am think she does anything materially important when she goes to these events. Thank you. Host any thoughts on the delegation . Guest i dont know the you are of the trip talking about, important part of atlantic Nato Parliament assembly is a group legislatures of all country come together perhaps lly, necessitily the year you mentioned, to discuss some such as a a member of congress, this is something that frequently every year, issue, not done by the state department. Atlantic core democratic values. Host you talked about President Trumps relationship with the members and the secretary in general. What about the other u. S. Officials that have contacts nato allies, secretary mattis, specifically thinking bout, what is his relationship like with the folks he talks to in nato . Guest secretary of defense, mattis, has a long relationship, lots of experience with the alliance. Head of onewas once of the major nato commands here virginia. And as he himself has said, every conflict general mattis he fought with other allies. This is manifestation when our things to out doing defend american interest, they do so with help and support of ally necessary nato. General mattis has a relationship with other airline before, knows them from with previous experience. Secretary of state tillerson world, rom a different business background, he doesnt have as much exposure to nato or leaders of need. Dates of what we consistently from president meeting much fern off with start and that is it depends whether you meet your anancial obligations, this is angerous but, a caveat the administration shouldnt have. We will continue to press allys to have the to meet financial requirement, but not make administration shouldnt have. It conditional on the defense commitment, as well. Host david, germantown, democrat, good morning. Caller good morning. I have a question for your the , im from one of former republic necessary central asia. Is ian government say there such a law and agreement with nato. Would be buffer zone country, zia and nato former, soviet countries or any its own. Very good question, russians make comments frequently, that are not accurate. Agreement between nato and former soviet union and russian read them are public, yourself. Most relevant document is 1997 act, ussia family establishing partnership with ato and russia and spelled out nato would not space troop, significant number of troops environment ofnt 1997 because it didnt feel time. Ary at the however, things have changed, the security environment is more evere, russia invaded two neighbors in the last eight significant concern there and that is why currently this spring we have nato, what is called enhance for president s. Four battalions led by four ountries, great britain, canada, germany, and the United States. Are hese countries battalionsized units, not deployment, significant enough five to protect each or most and United States members. How many trips could nato put in the field if it needed to . If member nations decided to take military action . Guest that is a complicated question. Depending how much time. What after the russians nvaded ukraine in 2014, at the summit, created the very high unitness joint task force, of three to five thousand light infantry destroyed between two seven days. That unit is backed up by with arm iry unit orcalled response force, urf, 30 days. Be deployed in behind that, National Military and different components, that added, as well. In 2014, unofficially, there forces tain special units from nato countries deployed in the baltic at that time, send message of deterrence, as well. Host under nato command or command . L country guest individual country, bilaterally. For a few calls with jorge of nato director source. Eric, good morning. Caller good morning. A comment and e then get a response. Ofnting a very, very picture natos intentions, yet when the made ar ended, it was clear, although it wasnt written down, secretary baker president bush and expandez, nato would not further. It has continued to expand and has expanded to russias borders. The russians made it clear too ne and georgia were forcibly take actions, if nato expanded into the areas. Secondly, the issue of russia invadin elected, democratically government was overthrown in is ine and the cremia critical. Ato expansion has been provocative from viewpoints of the russians and i think that reasons we e of the have the cold war tensions getting larger now. On the , the issue of b