Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Shrinking Europe Military Spending Stirs Concern
This article relates to foreign policy topics that we have been discussing in class. According to the article, certain European countries have not been paying the amount agreed upon to support NATO. This greatly impacts the U.S. because we rely on other countries in this coalition to pull their weight. Currently, the U.S. is supplying 75% of the money that supports NATO. The economy and large deficits in many countries certainly do not help the situation. In order for NATO to work, each country must supply the predetermined amount of money. Since this isn't happening, NATO is in jeopardy; the loss of NATO poses a huge threat, especially with China's increase in military spending. Surely, "if it (NATO) were gone, it would be very, very hard to recreate.”
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I think this is interesting from a historical perspective as well. It is very relevant to what the chapter discusses about a transition from an isolationist policy in the 1920s to containment and so on and so forth. Military alliances have become increasingly important. While NATO is a pretty important organization, I don't like that such a disproportionate amount of the responsibility to fund it has been placed on the United States.
ReplyDeleteIf you are a part of an organization, you need to able to pull your own weight. If these countries haven't be able to the pay their share of the money for a long time, then they shouldn't be part of NATO. I wouldn't want NATO to fall apart, but its not fair for the United States to pay for most of its funds.
ReplyDeleteI agree that is would be a huge problem if NATO disintegrated, but other than talking about it, I don't see what the US can do to compel these other nations to fulfill their roles as a part of NATO.
ReplyDeleteIt is definitely a big concern that NATO could possibly fall apart. With the United States already contributing a disproportionate amount I do not think that there is much that we could do to compel the others to pay.
ReplyDeleteI definitely agree that we will be at a rut if NATO dissolves and doesn't exist. I agree with Grace in saying that the US can't do much about it if other countries don't do their part in this.
ReplyDeleteIf NATO goes away, I am pretty sure everyone will be in a rut as Same said. I also agree with Sara, where if there are countries that are in this organization; they should have to pay their share too. It's ridiculous that 75% of the money is coming from the US.
ReplyDeleteIt would be a big problem for the U.S. if NATO dissolved, but we shouldn't be paying the majority of a program while other members aren't supporting it financially as they should. I doubt there is a way the U.S. can force the other nations to pay their fair share.
ReplyDeleteAmerica is in a bad place on this issue because they cannot force any nation to pay without risking NATO as a whole and personally I find it unlikely that the other nations will change their ways and beginning paying the agreed amount without some kind of intervention
ReplyDeleteI agree that America is kind of stuck because they can't do anything if the other countries don't pull their weight or do anything. It would be a huge problem for the US if NATO was rid of.
ReplyDeleteLosing NATO will be detrimental to us and other countries. It doesn't seem far that we are pulling our weight and also bailing out those other countries. Nothing will convince these other countries to give me money.
ReplyDeleteWe are in such a touch position, because all we have are empty threats of dismembering NATO. It's a shame that we have to pull our weight and the weight of others, without any sort of way of enforcing that they pay up.
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