Analysis: America’s Allies Already ‘Pay Up’

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Free Beacon:

Countries in Europe and Asia that host U.S. military bases contribute hundreds of millions of dollars annually to support American troops operating overseas, according to new research that clashes with Donald Trump’s assertions about allies’ defense contributions.

 

Germany, Japan, and South Korea together pay billions in direct cash payments and in-kind contributions to support U.S. military bases, according to a new analysis prepared by the American Action Network and obtained by the Washington Free Beacon.

 

The research, released on Tuesday morning, argues that it would cost the United States more to project global power without maintaining military bases abroad.

 

Trump has repeatedly said that U.S. allies need to pay more for their defense, singling out Germany, Japan, and South Korea as nations that need to “pay up.” Trump has said the same of NATO allies, saying that he would only come to the defense of a member country—as required by NATO’s governing treaty—if the nation met its spending obligations.