BRUSSELS/BERLIN — The economic shock of the coronavirus pandemic is likely to undermine NATO defence targets cherished by U.S. President Donald Trump, diplomats and experts say, as governments move closer to spending goals only by virtue of shrinking economies. Agreed after Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014, the target of spending 2% of gross domestic product on defence has been embraced by Trump and he held an exclusive lunch in London last year for the allies that had reached it. NATO's annual report in March showed that nine countries, including the United States, were estimated to have reached the target in 2019, with other big allies including France and Turkey not far off. While NATO militaries are at the forefront of Europe's response, delivering medical supplies via airlifts and helping to build temporary hospitals, an expected deep recession will shrink many of the world's economies.

Source: International New York Times April 02, 2020 12:33 UTC