Source: Fortune.com
Summary
NATO’s credibility has taken a hit due to US President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to seize Greenland, a semiautonomous territory of NATO ally Denmark, and his disparaging remarks about NATO allies’ troops in Afghanistan. European allies and Canada have pledged to boost their defense spending to 5% of their GDP by 2035, but analysts say the infighting has seriously undercut the alliance’s ability to deter adversaries. Russia, NATO’s biggest threat, has taken notice of the tensions and seems undeterred by NATO’s talk of increased spending. The alliance’s deterrence is underpinned by a strong American troop presence in Europe, but there is doubt about the US commitment to its allies.
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The strategy enters a familiar phase.
NATO’s credibility has taken a hit, and the alliance’s deterrence is underpinned by a strong American troop presence in Europe. But there is doubt about the US commitment to its allies. European allies and Canada have pledged to boost their defense spending, but analysts say the infighting has seriously undercut the alliance’s ability to deter adversaries. Russia seems undeterred by NATO’s talk of increased spending. The numbers tell one story: NATO’s defense spending is up, but its credibility is down.
It’s a major upheaval for Europe, and we are watching it, as Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov noted.
