Tillis Details $2 Trillion NATO Funding Gap, Condemns Trump’s Greenland Proposal

U.S. Senator Thom Tillis warned today that Europe’s long-standing defense spending gap threatens NATO stability and called President Donald Trump’s proposal to take control of Greenland “irresponsible.”

Speaking at the Munich Security Conference in Germany, Tillis emphasized that the North Carolina Republican remains committed to NATO as “the most important alliance in the history of mankind.” He noted that Congress has consistently supported the alliance.

“The president is trying to get our NATO allies to perform more strongly and have some level of independence, but Congress has their back,” Tillis said.

Rejecting claims that U.S. support for NATO has become “in a more limited and focused fashion,” Tillis added that the alliance is what makes the United States “the world’s superpower, what keeps this world safer.”

Tillis identified a $2 trillion shortfall in European defense spending over two decades as the primary concern, stating it has undermined readiness, innovation, and manufacturing capacity. He urged allies to commit to sustained investment rather than temporary crisis responses.

“Europe needs to step up, not let this be episodic,” he said. “Increased spending builds their capabilities, their interoperability, their ability to work with NATO allies if a conflict occurs.”

On Greenland, Tillis criticized Trump’s proposal as “irresponsible” and stressed the need to modernize the 1951 agreement with Denmark instead of taking unilateral action. He called for “a little bit of respect to Denmark and to Greenland” and advocated for a “fiscally sound, sustainable way to project power” in the Arctic region.

Turning to trade policy, Tillis said Congress should prioritize updating the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) to strengthen bilateral ties. He also questioned specific tariffs, including a 50% tariff on Brazil despite a trade surplus with the country.

Additionally, Tillis reiterated that he would block Federal Reserve nominations pending an ongoing Justice Department investigation into Chair Jerome Powell.

When asked about the November election, Tillis predicted Republicans would retain control of the Senate but expressed uncertainty about the House due to potential “overreach” in redistricting and the challenges of a midterm election following a presidential contest.

“If I have to speak bluntly, that’s what I’m going to do in my remaining time in the Senate,” Tillis said.