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Thank you opinterph and kulindahr for your NATO observations. I'm aware that diplomats sometimes content themselves with squishy language. It appears to be part of the deal. However if you have a bunch of free countries declare time and time again that a certain level of defence spending is necessary, it is reasonable to actually hold all countries in that partnership to it. I doubt that 2% is either necessary or desirable, but if countries like my own freely governed one keep agreeing to it then I expect them to deliver.
I think Trump might be shocked at the result if every NATO country started spending that 2% next year, as there are all sorts of ways to spend it that wouldn't do diddly to help with the things he's interested in. Just for some examples, it could be spent on improved footgear, additional antiaircraft missiles, updated computer systems, personnel housing, or a host of other things that wouldn't increase an ability to project force outside national borders at all.


 
						 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		 
 
		






