“NATO
member-states unwilling or unable to help boost the military spending
are being accused of ignoring the 'Russian threat,' that has
re-emerged as the core of the alliance’s agenda to boost arms
sales. A report saying one of major NATO funding contributors, the
UK, could fail to fulfil the commitment to spend 2 percent of its GDP
on the alliance in 2015 came as a bombshell for some of the West’s
military elite. The head of the US army, General Raymond Odierno,
told the Telegraph he was 'very concerned' about Britain’s possible
defense cuts.”
“Former
MI6 chief, Sir John Sawers, called for a rise in defense spending,
also mentioning the 'threat' coming out of Russia 'not necessarily
directly to the UK, but to countries around its periphery.' [...] In
turn, Moscow said it will take all 'necessary measures' including
military, technical and political to neutralize a possible threat
from NATO presence in Eastern Europe, Russia's ambassador to NATO,
Aleksandr Grushko, told the Rossiya 24 TV channel on Monday. He added
NATO’s actions 'significantly impair regional and European
security, and pose risks to our security.'”
“Among
'proof' of the 'Russian aggression' there have been fake photos of
the Russian tanks, which eventually turned out to have been taken in
a different place at a different time, a supposed Russian airplane in
British airspace, that turned out to be Latvian, and mysterious
'Russian submarines' in Swedish waters - which never were found.
'Demonizing' Russia plays well into the hands of the military,
believes former NATO intelligence analyst, Lt Cdr Martin Packard.”
“Germany
does not feel like increasing the military budget at any cost.
Minister of Finance, Wolfgang Schäuble, has recently agreed there
was a need to spend more on defense, but said that Berlin was not
going to do it at least before 2017, Bild am Sonntag reported.
Germany has earlier voiced its concern over increasing defense
spending to 2 percent of GDP. [...] Together with Italy and Canada,
Germany is expected to spend $5.7 billion less on defense in 2015
than in 2014, according to a report by the defense and security think
tank, European Leadership Network (ELN).”
“...
French President Francois Hollande said Paris currently opposes
NATO’s expansion. While bigger NATO members are being frugal in
their defense spending, seven smaller ones are significantly boosting
military capabilities. The three Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania
and Estonia are in the avant-garde. Others include the Netherlands,
Norway, Poland and Romania.”
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