March 10, 2015

Europe ‘Naive and Absolutely Underestimating’ Global Security Risks

Featuring: Julianne Smith

The UK, and other European NATO member states are “absolutely” underestimating the risks to global security, according to a former top U.S. military commander.

General Charles ‘Chuck’ Wald says western Europe’s foreign policy could be described as “wishful thinking”, and also warned that Britain faces losing its remaining influence as a global power if defence spending doesn’t match its ambitions.

Over the last few days a number of former UK military commanders have publicly criticised the British government’s lack of commitment to meet the 2% defence spending target agreed at the NATO summit in Wales last summer to counter Russian aggression in eastern Europe. Former chief of the defence staff, General Sir Peter Wall wrote today in the Telegraph newspaper that failing to meet the 2% target would put the UK in danger.

Read the full article at Newsweek.

Author

  • Julianne Smith

    Former Adjunct Senior Fellow, Transatlantic Security Program

    Julianne (“Julie”) Smith is a contributing editor to Foreign Policy, where she coedits “Shadow Government.” She is also a senior advisor at WestExec Advisors, an adjunct senio...