Trump: On NATO.

Trump during his last term in office was always pulling out of this or that. If he didn't think anything was worth the US's time or money, he pulled out. Trump famously pulled out of the nuclear agreement between the West and Iran. Trump thought the deal let Iran off the hook. So Trump pulled the US out of the deal which was championed by Obama. Trump then hit Iran with heavy sanctions which crippled its economy. The sanctions hurt ordinary Iranians more than top officials as sanctions sadly do.

While in office Trump was buddy-buddy with two despots namely Benjamin Netanyahu and Vlad 'The Invader' Putin. Some could add a third despot to that list namely Kim Jong-un. Though, unlike Putin and Netanyahu, Trump's relationship was brief with Kim. Trump also waxed lyrical about why should the US defend Europe from Russia when many NATO nations were not paying their way. Many fear with Trump back in the White House, he might pull the US out of NATO.

Whilst on the campaign trail this year Trump again reiterated that NATO nations should pay their way. Poland shares a border with Ukraine and Russia pays the most to NATO with 4.1 % of its GDP. Estonia is the next largest contributor with 3.4 %. The third largest contributor to NATO is the US. The UK remains the ninth biggest payee into NATO with 2.3 %of its GDP. That was under the Tory administration. Now with Labour in power, the government is expected to keep this up. Defence Secretary John Healey said the UK would increase its contribution by 2.5 %.

Asked if he thought Trump would pull out of NATO Mr. Healey thought not. He said Trump was committed to defending Europe alongside NATO Allies. As if in answer to Trump's demand 23 of the 32 nations in NATO are expected to increase their payments to NATO. In a way Trump has a point, the US would be doing most of the fighting if Russia was bold enough to attack Europe.

Trump has already spoken to Putin by phone. Allegedly telling him to simmer things down in Ukraine. Telling him not to escalate and pointing out to him the American's military might in Europe. Whether Putin will take heed remains to be seen. Trump has intimated that he wants peace between Russia and Ukraine. Mr. Trump says a deal will be done before he is even in the White House. For Putin to agree to such a deal Putin will want to keep the land he has conquered in Ukraine. Especially for a domestic audience back home. Putin will have to show his people that all the years of death and destruction have been worth it. On the other hand, Zelenskyy may not like that kind of deal but may have no choice. Especially if Trump cuts off weapons supplies to Ukraine.

As for that other theatre of war, in the Middle East, Trump says he has a plan for peace. It will have to be a plan that satisfies Netanyahu so he can show the Israeli people like Putin that all the war has been worth it. This means Israel meeting its objectives of destroying Hamas and bringing the remainder of the hostages back. Pushing Hezbollah back from its northern border. However, Israel has failed to do any of this so far. In any peace deal, Netanyahu will want a guarantee of his safety from prosecution. Whether that be in the international criminal court or at home.

For now, Trump remains President-elect. Trump has already formed his cabinet and will meet Biden shortly at the White House.