Why Europe Needs to Spend More on Defense

NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg once had a different view on defense spending. As the former Dutch prime minister, Mark Rutte, he often failed to meet NATO's 2% GDP defense spending target. But now, heading the world's most powerful military alliance, he has changed his mind. He credits former U. S. President Donald Trump for pushing European countries to increase their defense spending. Ukraine, facing years of Russian attacks, has been trying to join NATO, but without success. Stoltenberg agrees that Europe needs to spend more on defense, but he also believes that 2% is not enough. He says that while the U. S. spends a lot on defense, Europe has been underfunding its own defense while focusing on social models, healthcare, and pensions. Stoltenberg's change of heart comes from the realization that the current spending is not fair to the U. S. or to Europe's own security needs. He understands that asking the U. S. to expand NATO's protection while Europe isn't pulling its weight is unfair. He believes that each NATO member should contribute equally to keep the alliance strong. The conversation about NATO's expansion and spending has been going on for a while. Richard Grenell, a former U. S. Ambassador to Germany, argues that the U. S. is bearing the brunt of NATO's defense costs. He believes that Europe should increase its spending before considering adding new members like Ukraine. In the end, Stoltenberg and Grenell agree on one thing: Europe needs to spend more on defense to keep NATO strong and fair. They both believe that the current spending is not enough, and that Europe needs to step up its game.