Though he was Trump’s VP, Pence and the President’s relationship has soured. Now there are even more shocks in store.
Because Mike Pence burst back into the spotlight to hand Trump the surprise of his life.
Trump Secures Historic NATO Defense Spending Increase
Former Vice President Mike Pence’s advocacy group, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), hailed President Trump’s leadership at the recent NATO summit in the Hague as a “major victory” for securing a significant boost in allied defense spending.
The group’s memo, sent to Capitol Hill lawmakers and obtained by National Review, credits Trump’s persistent push for NATO members to meet their financial obligations, marking a pivotal moment in strengthening the alliance.
The agreement sets a new benchmark, raising the defense spending pledge to 5 percent of GDP, with 3.5 percent allocated to military expenditures and 1.5 percent to defense-related costs.
Uniting Conservatives Around a Stronger Alliance
The AAF memo reflects a rare alignment between interventionist conservatives, who have occasionally critiqued Trump’s foreign policy rhetoric, and an administration demonstrating unexpected agility in global affairs.
Trump’s decade-long campaign to address what he called “freeloading” by allies has borne fruit, with NATO members committing to the elevated spending target.
“NATO was broke, and I said, ‘You’re going to have to pay,’” Trump declared at the summit, noting, “Now they’re paying a lot.”
The memo also called out countries like Spain, which reduced its spending last year, while acknowledging the challenge others face in meeting the new pledges.
AAF emphasized that this commitment enhances NATO’s deterrence capabilities, reducing the likelihood of invoking the Article V mutual defense clause.
Charting Progress and Holding Allies Accountable
AAF’s memo included detailed charts highlighting NATO members lagging in their 2024 defense spending, naming Turkiye, Germany, Canada, and others as delinquent.
Despite past differences with Trump on issues like tariffs and Ukraine policy, AAF and Pence praised the president’s ability to rally allies, as evidenced by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s text to Trump: “You are flying into another big success in the Hague this evening.”
“It was not easy but we’ve got them all signed onto 5 percent!” AAF policy director John Shelton told National Review, “A strong America requires a strong NATO. Thanks to President Trump’s leadership, our NATO allies are finally waking up and prioritizing defense spending.”
The group vowed to continue advocating for robust defense policies to ensure the alliance’s strength and America’s security.
