April 17, 2017
NATO Funding Frustration Could Cause Friction in Europe
A former candidate for UK Prime Minister suggests that the United Kingdom could use its military to counteract Spanish attempts to influence the status of a British outpost. A major British newspaper adds fuel to that fire by arguing that the Royal British Navy could defeat the Spanish Navy should it come to war. When did this happen? 1805? Perhaps the 1760s?
No, this actually took place in 2017, over accusations that the Spanish were attempting to influence Gibraltar’s status post-Brexit. This spat serves as a grim reminder for the United States—it encourages European nations to spend more on defense at its own peril. The history of European military might is not a happy one, and the recent U.S. demand that European nations spend 2 percent of their GDP on defense to meet the NATO target could, in fact, harm U.S. interests.
In short, when faced with the choice of guns or butter, the United States should allow European leaders to choose butter. The United States can bring the guns.
Read the full article at The National Interest.
More from CNAS
-
European Outlooks on the Transatlantic Relationship, with Jana Puglierin
Podcast
Jana Puglierin joins Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss how Europeans are thinking about the United States and a future transatlantic relationship. Puglierin is...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend & Jana Puglierin
-
No, Trump has not been ‘tough’ on Russia
Commentary
The simple fact is that even harsh-looking sanctions have little impact when there’s zero political will to enforce them....
By Edward Fishman , James Lamond & Max Bergmann
-
Prospects for Democracy in Belarus, with Judy Dempsey and Jonathan Katz
Podcast
Judy Dempsey and Jonathan Katz join Andrea Kendall-Taylor and Jim Townsend to discuss the ongoing protests in Belarus and the country’s prospects for a democratic political tr...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, Judy Dempsey & Jonathan Katz
-
Enlisting NATO to Address the China Challenge
Commentary
Moving forward, the DoD should enlist NATO in efforts to address the China challenge....
By Carisa Nietsche, Jim Townsend & Andrea Kendall-Taylor
