“For decades, the United States has assured peace in Western Europe, and as Trump rightly points out, this security has come with a direct cost to American taxpayers.”
I have criticized the Trump Administration in the past, however I also believe that every leader should be measured objectively. President Trump has come under intense fire from American critics for urging other members of NATO to pay their fair share. Yet is this criticism really warranted? Is it so terrible a thing to ask members of a treaty to live up to their end of the treaty? Or is this more simple political grandstanding to earn points?
The NATO treaty is one of the longest standing and most important treaties in the world. Even as Russia builds up its forces in Eastern Europe, members of NATO can continue on with little immediate risk of conflict. Why? Certainly, NATO plays an important part of this sense of security. Not only are members of NATO assured that their fellow European allies will respond to an attack, but they know they have the backing of the world’s preeminent military power, the United States.
For decades, the United States has assured peace in Western Europe, and as Trump rightly points out, this security has come with a direct cost to American taxpayers. The United States pays for about 22% of NATO’s budget, directly. Indirectly, the United States contributes elsewhere by stationing troops and other assets across Europe, as well as providing training and arms, and other benefits to NATO members.
These costs are a burden on American taxpayers. While certainly the world benefits from peace in Europe, with massive deficits at home and the inability to provide affordable education, health care, and other benefits rightly has many Americans wondering if we should be footing so much of the bill.
Trump’s call for European allies to make their commitments and spend 2% of their GDP on their own defense is perfectly fair. After all, our European allies already agreed to do so, and right now, they are the most at risk of attack, however slight that risk might be. As our European allies increase their spending on defense, the entire NATO alliance will become more secure and ready for an attack.
The United States should, of course, continue to live up to its burdens in NATO. Our European allies must also live up to their commitments, however, or an undue burden will fall upon the shoulders of American taxpayers. Further, Europe itself will be less secure and less well defended.
