Are America’s NATO Allies Doing Enough To Defend Europe?

WEDNESDAY PDB – There is more to NATO burden sharing than the 2% spending. As the NATO alliance prepares to gather this summer to celebrate its 75th birthday, rhetoric around “burden sharing” – specifically whether member countries are paying enough, (ie: military spending equal to 2% of GDP) – is likely to heat up.

With a war raging just off NATO’s eastern flank as Ukraine defends itself against an aggressor that has become NATO’s raison d’etre, it’s a fair question: Are NATO member countries doing enough?

Thanks to Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, in 2023, 11 nations met NATO’s Defense Investment Pledge of 2% of GDP, up from just three NATO countries in 2014.

But security officials caution that military budgets may need to mirror Cold War spending, potentially reaching as high as 4% of GDP. This could translate into more than $10 trillion of additional commitments over the next decade, a significant financial consideration.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense stories from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

Not the President’s Daily Brief, but almost as good – PAUL’S DAILY BRIEFING – the PDB:

NATIONAL SECURITY

US and Russia need to reestablish Cold War playbook to avert nuclear escalation, says top American general in Europe. The U.S. needs to revive the lines of communication with Moscow that helped both countries avoid nuclear conflict during the Cold War.

HOMELAND SECURITY

2 cutters stuck in Coast Guard maintenance yard after Key Bridge collapse. Two Coast Guard cutters are stuck in the Curtis Bay shipyard, with five others unable to get in for scheduled maintenance.

POLITICS

Israel F-15 sale hangs in the balance as Democrats push Austin on Gaza. A key Democrat on Tuesday said he is noncommittal about approving the $18 billion sale to Israel, even as ‘centrist’ members of the party who previously supported unrestricted military aid to the country become increasingly skeptical amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Bill in Congress would force action on US troops’ blast exposure. The Pentagon would be required to modify weapons, update safety guidelines, train medical staff and track individual troops’ exposure to repeated blasts that can injure their brains.

Biden says Netanyahu’s approach to the war is a mistake, deepening a rift between the two allies. Biden also called on Israel to flood Gaza with aid, ramping up pressure on Israel to reach a cease-fire and widening a rift between the two staunch allies.

US POWER OVERSEAS

Amid lawmaker scrutiny, DoD assessing operational joint force HQ in Indo-Pacific, Austin says. “What I’ve asked my team to do is look at this and do an assessment to make sure that we get it right, and we understand the operational and cost issues associated with this.”

It’s too soon for Biden and Kishida to take a victory lap. Three uncomfortable questions still hang over the U.S.-Japan alliance.

ISRAEL WAR AGAINST HAMAS

Israel’s maritime C-Dome downs drone in first operational combat interception. Its Sa’ar 6s have seen extensive operations during the war in Gaza in the wake of the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.

IRAN THREAT

EU Red Sea navy mission commander hopes for more ships to repel Houthi attacks. The commander wants to significantly increase its size, as just four warships are patrolling an area twice the size of the 27-nation bloc.

US gives Ukraine seized Iranian weapons that were headed to Houthis.

CHINA THREAT

‘We are out of time’: Air Force secretary warns China’s military catching up as US bungles budgets. As our politicians have delayed critical funds for the military to start new weapons programs, the Chinese have built larger, more capable forces with an eye on challenging U.S. power.

US Pacific boss ‘very, very concerned’ about Chinese aggression in region. The head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said this on Tuesday about China’s aggression toward Philippine forces near disputed islands in the South China Sea.

America’s Pacific allies are copying US Marines’ littoral regiment moves. The Corps’ top operations general is seeing Pacific allies copy some of the new littoral-based war-fighting concepts that the service has developed to counter China in the region.

US Coast Guard says boardings of Chinese fishing vessels in South Pacific legal. It has rejected comments by a Chinese diplomat that its recent boardings of Chinese fishing boats in the Pacific Islands alongside local police are illegal, saying the joint patrols are at the behest of Pacific nations to protect coastal fisheries.

Philippines steps up defenses against Chinese hackers after ‘cyberwar’ warning from telecoms security chief. Social media accounts of the Philippine coastguard, the government’s IT agency and President Marcos Jr.’s own website have all been hit this year.

RUSSIA THREAT – UKRAINE WAR

Zelensky says Ukraine will lose war without US funding.

US announces $138 million in emergency military sales of Hawk missile systems support for Ukraine. The foreign military sales for Ukraine will provide critical repairs and spare parts for Kyiv’s Hawk missile systems.

UN nuclear watchdog’s board sets emergency meeting after Zaporizhzhia nuke plant attacks. The Board of Governors emergency meeting on Thursday comes at the request of both Ukraine and Russia, after the 2 enemies accused each other of drone attacks on the plant.

Russia’s GPS meddling in the Baltic Sea demands NATO action, Sweden’s naval chief says. Emanations from Kaliningrad are making regional shipping and air travel more dangerous.

SPACE THREAT

Spy satellite agency eyes May launch of first proliferated constellation. The National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) could launch the first satellites as soon as next month.

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Canada vows fresh focus on Arctic defense, equipment purchases. The Canadian military will receive new tactical helicopters, early warning aircraft as well as long-range missiles and will increase its presence in the Arctic as part of its updated defense policy.

In from the cold: Rebuilding Sweden’s civil defense for the NATO era. “It’s time for action!” “There could be war in Sweden.” “Who are you if war comes?”

US MILITARY

Marine Corps delays 1st deployment of new heavy-lift helicopter to 2026. The Marine Corps plans to deploy its powerful new heavy-lift helicopter a year after it previously had anticipated.

The state of the Army 2024. The cancellation of a scout helicopter might signal a new era of agility.

The state of the Navy 2024. Amid program delays and budget choices, new CNO vows more learning and “more players on the field.”

The state of the Marine Corps 2024. The Corps’ race to become a lighter service might move faster if its budget weren’t flat.

The state of the Air Force 2024. A strategic reorientation is unfolding against changes in the conduct of air warfare.

The state of the Space Force 2024. The young service is focusing on contested space—even as its budgets return to Earth.

Army expanding pre-basic training prep courses to bring in more soldiers and curb recruiting crisis. The training courses were created to get young Americans into compliance with the service’s enlistment standards.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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