Europe needs to assess it's way forward. NATO countries are suppose to pay two percent of the cost. That dollar figures fluctuates with any increase in NATO initiatives. I doubt Europe can afford to support NATO with the costs that are coming for two reasons.
If the USA increase its role in Europe that two percent becomes higher with greater spending in Europe.
If the USA decreases its profile in Europe that two percent needs to be used to increase the independenc to Europe's military content and stance. Either way if the USA insists on payment of the monies due to it under the NATO agreement Europe will not be able to pay the bill.
The EU must begin to address it's own security and determine when the USA will come to their defense. As of January 20, 2017 the USA's stance anywhere in the world comes into question. REGIONAL security is a method of defining the role of any country within that region.
It is completely horrible there is no way to know what the next four years of NATO will look like. That reality alone is reason for Europe to begin movement to autonomy.
Europe needs to lead. If it assumes leadership NATO will put national security priorities first and that is the best place for Europe. I don't know if the Trump administration will abide by the treaty at all. If Mr. Trump orders less troops in Europe based on financial arrangements that are not met, the US Congress may step in to bring about a different president. There is nothing to say a different president will honor the treaty either. It is safe to say, the future of the USA is in question.
13 November 2016
By Jessica Elgot
Jeremy Corbyn (click here) has suggested he is in favour of reducing Nato’s presence on eastern Europe’s borders with Russia and said it was clear the US president-elect, Donald Trump, believed he could improve relations with Vladimir Putin.
The Labour leader said he had “many, many criticisms of Putin, the human rights abuses in Russia and the militarisation of society” but said further escalation had to be avoided.
“I do think there has to be a process that we try and demilitarise the border between what are now the Nato states and Russia so we drive apart those forces, keep them further apart ... we can’t descend into a new cold war,” he told BBC1’s Andrew Marr show.
The UK is deploying hundreds of troops as well as aircraft and armour to eastern Europe as part of the biggest buildup of Nato forces in the region amid growing tensions with Russia.
Corbyn said the election of Trump, who has expressed scepticism of Nato, was a reflection of the anger communities felt at being left behind by globalisation, but dismissed the suggestion that only the right was managing to capitalise on that feeling....
