EU Defense $

Fire of Liberty

As you know, I'm a big opponent to the EU superstate especially its proposed goal of creating a foreign & security policy that's independent of NATO. My argument against developing this separate security policy is two-fold. First, I would decouple the US and Europe from achieving a common objective in security that exists within NATO. With Europe in a independent security formulation separate from the US, one can imagine the EU and the US breaking further apart from each other. Just imagine how many more problems would have been created if such an entity existed during the war in Afghanistan or Iraq. Secondly, the EU nations will never be able to sustain the EU Security Forces as well as their contributions to NATO. Since these nations have become massive "nanny-states," they continue to pump money into various welfare programs rather than into defense. Without sufficient contributions to their defensive systems, the EU will fall further and further into an abyss of inadequacy when it comes to military preparedness and modernization.

Well, their seems to be more powerful actors who seem to share similar positions. According to this article in The Financial Times, Nicholas Burns, US ambassador to NATO, is somewhat concerned about the EU falling short. Don't take my word though, see for yourself:

"While the Europeans have managed very impressively to devise one trade policy, I don't think there's any inclination by most European governments to devise one policy on each foreign policy issue."

He added: "Europe needs to reflect on the low level of defence spending, which has left most European militaries in a state of disrepair."

In 2003, Nato's European members spent $221bn (€168bn, £116bn) on defence, or 1.9 per cent of gross domestic product, compared with the US's $405bn, or 3.7 per cent of GDP. The spending gap has increased since, and European forces find it much harder to deploy than their US counterparts.

Thank God for Ambassador Burns. He seems to know what's important and good for Europe as well as America.