The total debt of countries owed by the US is estimated at between $10 billion and $18 billion. But Amos Yaron, director general of the Israeli Defense Ministry, has offered a security assistance package for AWACS and Hercules aircraft, Apache and Blackhawk helicopters, the Nautilus anti-missile system, and more than $17 billion that all NATO members could pay. Thus, Israel is among those who owe the United States.
Israel's Debt
For years, the United States provided Israel with $3 billion annually, as well as regular arms shipments and periodic loan guarantees, making it Washington's most expensive dependency. All this was to help secure Tel Aviv in the extreme region.
In 1976, peace began to improve. But instead of reducing the amount of money coming from the US, US President Jimmy Carter agreed to increase it. Egypt was defeated while aid to Israel continued.
Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) also became Americandependents when they reached an agreement with Tel Aviv. Now Israel and Syria have begun a dance of peace, and are often reminded of duty. But the current US administration will not leave alone those who owe the US.
If Israel returns the Golan Heights, it will need ten billion dollars to relocate residents and another eight billion to move its bases.
Overall, 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 to offset the resettlement of Palestinian refugees. The largest share of this amount will, of course, be drawn from America.
Israeli Arguments and Peace in East Asia
Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak recently explained to US senators that this would 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 been at war since 1973. The question is who benefits from a formal peace agreement. Peace on the Korean Peninsula is also maintained in part at US expense, which is why Japan and South Korea are often included in the list of those who owe the US.
It must be recognized that foreign aid does not contribute to economic development. How much Japan owes the US, and how much should return to the Americans
Debts for financial support
Funding for Egypt was almostcompletely wasted. Money for Israel subsidized one of the fastest growing economies on Earth. The abuse and waste of PLO aid is a pandemic: in 1997, US$323 million, a third of the Palestinian Authority's budget, simply disappeared.
So the only real reason to inject funds is to bribe the Arab and Israeli governments to bring peace. But who has the greatest interest in signing the treaty? Israel and the Arab States or the US?
The original Camp David Accords were related to the Cold War. It may have cost money to secure Egypt's withdrawal from the Soviet Union. But Israel remained on the list of those who owe the United States.
Dear Middle East
Although the Clinton administration didn't seem to notice, the Cold War was over. Thus, the benefit of the Middle East peace is doubtful. It no longer refers to the broader geopolitical struggle involving the United States. How much does the US owe other countries? According to some estimates, this number reaches billions of dollars.
In such a world, let the countries that benefit the most from peace pay for it. It is obvious that Syria does not deserve a penny. How many countries does the US need? Apparently, all NATO countries. Right now, only Trump seems to know how much money the world owes the US. And willingly talks about it.
Israel's obligations
According to some American right, Israel should bear the cost of moving military installations. Although Tel Aviv cannottake its security for granted, it has overwhelming military superiority against all its neighbors. The answer to the question of which countries the United States owes is quite simple: all whose economies America has invested in and given loans to.
Peace with Damascus should allow it to selectively cut its defense budget, money that can be used to purchase new weapons and adjust its martial law along the Syrian border.
In any case, American taxpayers should not be on the hook. Indeed, the United States should use this opportunity to rethink 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 peace are those countries that make peace. They must pay the price they receive.
NATO Debt
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization or the North Atlantic Alliance is an intergovernmental military alliance between 28 North American and European countries that was formed in 1949 in response to World War II. According to Donald Trump, Germany owes the United States for defense assistance.
According to the NATO website, the purpose of the alliance is to contain Soviet expansionism; prohibiting the resurgence of nationalist militarism in Europe through a strong North American presence on the continent; encouragement of European political integration. For NATO to work, member countries must ensure the financial stability of theirarmed forces. To this end, NATO partners have agreed on an official budget price or standard that determines how much 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.
Helping the Americans
Historically, the United States has provided the largest share of NATO's military power. For decades, the debate about whether this arrangement is fair has waned and vanished. For example, in a 2011 New York Times editorial titled "Telling the Truth with NATO," former Secretary of Defense Robert Gates said that the United States could no longer afford to do a disproportionate amount of NATO combat and pay the same volume, while Europe cuts its defense budgets and enjoys the benefits 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 fairly. He argues that the majority are free riders who reap the benefits of peace and security provided by the United States military.
Many are concerned about the question of how much money Russia owes the US? 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 did notowes the Americans.
Defending Europe
NATO was created to protect Europe from military attacks by other countries. To become part of this block, participants must meet certain requirements. How many countries does the US need? According to Trump's logic, all members of NATO. But that's not the point now.
Alliance candidates must first have a secure and stable democratic system of governance. 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 budgetary legislation into line with NATO standards.
Illustrated by Dana Summers, the contemporary cartoon that 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 debt Germany owes. Germany contributes (or does not) contribute to NATO. The cartoon represents a meeting that Donald Trump had with NATO allies to discuss each country's overall contribution to collective defense. The meeting took place in Brussels on 25 May and focused on the new security environment, including the Alliance's role in combating terrorism, the importance of increased defense spending and more equitable burden-sharing.
List of countries
Total, according to Trump and some conservatives, the following countries owe America:
- Germany.
- Japan.
- South Korea.
- The B altic countries.
- France.
- Italy.
- Israel.
- Egypt.
- Saudi Arabia.
Trump Demands
The New York Times published an article headlined “Trump says NATO allies are not paying their share. It's true? The edition went on sale the day after the meeting in Brussels. The US President complained that NATO members must finally pay their fair share and fulfill their financial obligations, as 23 of the 28 member countries still do not pay what they should pay for their protection. Trump believes the United States has been true to the financial deal it made as a NATO member, but says other NATO allies should be putting more of their GDP into NATO.
Summers' cartoon reflects Trump's demand that other countries pay more as part of their commitment to NATO. In the cartoon, Trump looks disappointed, as if he was waiting for money. In the picture, the hat symbolizes the fund to which Angela Merkel is expected to contribute money for NATO. In this political cartoon, Merkel also symbolizes other European allies who have disappointed Trump. The expression on Merkel's face in the cartoon is as if she, too, is upset that President Trump is asking for money, and also becausethat she does not believe that Germany and other European allies owe this money to NATO. In short, the cartoon reflects the mutual discontent and dismay of allies over justice and freedom of movement.
Obsolete Union
Because NATO has no legislative power, its members cannot be punished for not investing as much money as the United States. However, Summers' political cartoon expresses Trump's expectation that members will keep their word and pay more if one of the European allied countries goes to war or needs protection. Essentially, 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 NATO agreements. That is, they do not make financial contributions that reflect their GDP. Trump is frustrated and feels the United States cannot trust its NATO allies. It devalues the purpose of the union. Of the 28 countries that make up NATO, the United States pays the most and also provides the most protection. Other NATO Allies must accept the same degree of responsibility and loy alty as the United States.
US Debtors and Rising National Debt
President Trump believes that the financial responsibility for NATO has not been assigned to other member countries. This problem was exacerbated by the Great Recession of 2008, which greatly increased the debt of the United States. By the end of 2017, the US national debt was about 19.84trillion.
This figure means that for every citizen of the United States, there is an amount of $60,890 needed to cover the national debt. This condition causes stress in Americans. It's not something most residents want to deal with in the long term, so it's no secret that debt is a concern for many people about their present and near future.
