NATO: 5 out of 28 members meet minimum Defense Budget requirement

[UCFKnight85]

I think NATO is vital and needed. But do these 23 countries who don't meet 2% feel the same way?

I would personally have no problem with the US pulling back significantly and forcing these countries to meet the minimum NATO spending targets. They love paying lip service to how important NATO is and then turn to the US and the UK to foot the bill.

Germany, Europe's largest economy, spends a pathetic 1.2% on defense.

Canada, where Trudeau loves to lecture on NATO importance, spends an even more pathetic 1%.

 

[chemmie]

We all need to be prepared, with outrageously large military budgets, for when Brain tries to take over the world.

 

[CommuterBob]

Luxembourg? Why should they spend anything on defense, unless it's to give it to France, Germany, and Belgium. Maybe to have some show guards at an airport or a missile defense system, but what exactly would they be defending against? One h-bomb and the country is vaporized.

 

[UCFKnight85]

Luxembourg? Why should they spend anything on defense, unless it's to give it to France, Germany, and Belgium. Maybe to have some show guards at an airport or a missile defense system, but what exactly would they be defending against? One h-bomb and the country is vaporized.

Way to hone in on the most irrelevant point.

 

[CommuterBob]

Way to hone in on the most irrelevant point.

LOL. This upsets you?

Besides, I think the US prefers being the watchdog over Europe and Japan and keeping other countries' defense spending down. That way the US can not only claim military superiority, but also become the prime market for weapons should something arise.

 

[UCFKnight85]

LOL. This upsets you?

Besides, I think the US prefers being the watchdog over Europe and Japan and keeping other countries' defense spending down. That way the US can not only claim military superiority, but also become the prime market for weapons should something arise.

Actually Europe mostly has EU made weapon systems. Most every nation has the Leo 2 tank; not the Abrams. Many have F16's but many also have EU made fighter jets. No one uses the Bradley fighting vehicle. Many countries use the LAV which is Canadian. Hardly anyone uses the M4 rifle.

They're all vocal about the Russian threat yet they allocate defense budgets as if it didn't exist.

 

[UCFWayne]

I agree, we need to severely pull back our funding and let them see if NATO truly is important to them. Same with the UN.

 

[UCF11and1]

The real question is: do we want those countries to double their defense spending?

 

[CommuterBob]

I agree, we need to severely pull back our funding and let them see if NATO truly is important to them. Same with the UN.

Yet Trump says we don't spend enough on defense. He wants to increase US defense spending.

 

[UCFKnight85]

Yet Trump says we don't spend enough on defense. He wants to increase US defense spending.

You can do that if you pull back on some commitments elsewhere. We need increases in several areas, namely in modernization and R&D.

 

[Great2BAKnight2]

We need to take a hard look at NATO. It's creation was in direct response to the Soviets and it's policies are created to be anti-Soviet in nature. The Cold War is over and the Warsaw Pact has been dissolved. So exactly what is the purpose of NATO and why can't it be adapted to allow Russia to join if they so chose? Past discussions on the topic have been called a "Pipe Dream".

Look at it this way, if China set up an Eastern Asia coalition with anti-American policies and a military wing that amounted to 70% of total worldwide military spending. How would we respond? We'd probably heighten tensions and saber rattle to get them to stand down on their policies. How is that any different than Russia's continued response to NATO?

 

[CommuterBob]

You can do that if you pull back on some commitments elsewhere. We need increases in several areas, namely in modernization and R&D.

That won't change the fact that defense spending will go up as compared to GDP. It won't go down.

 

[UCFKnight85]

That won't change the fact that defense spending will go up as compared to GDP. It won't go down.

Good. Historically this country has always spent 4% of GDP on defense. This has sunk to 3.5% and on pace to shrink lower. We need an increase and to rebuild after years of war and modernize.

 

[chemmie]

Good. Historically this country has always spent 4% of GDP on defense. This has sunk to 3.5% and on pace to shrink lower. We need an increase and to rebuild after years of war and modernize.

 

[The Branch]

I have a feeling Trump is going to tick off the UN and NATO pretty quickly. They will no longer be able to count on us to fund their operations.

 

[1ofTheseKnights]

Got bonuses to hit - damn right NATO is important - THE MUZZIES R COMIN