NATO Defence Spending: The Irrationality of 2%
Issue brief by our Associate Researcher Nicholas Williams and Simon Lunn, Senior Associate Fellow for the European Leadership Network, argues that elevating the 2% to a test of defence fidelity and solidarity is ultimately counter-productive. The brief was published by the European Leadership Network.
The authors present the history of NATO spending targets, critique their arbitrary nature and call instead for a renewed focus on the capabilities each member contributes to the Alliance rather than on budget numbers. They further argue that increased spending by NATO's European members provides an opportunity for Europe to develop a degree of strategic autonomy within NATO.
You can download the brief here.
A senior UK Ministry of Defence and NATO official. Most of career spent in NATO, national defence service and in support of national and international (NATO and EU) military operations in theatre (Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan).
Nicholas Williams is a senior UK Ministry of Defence and NATO official. Most of career he spent in NATO, national defence service and in support of national and international (NATO and EU) military operations in Iraq, the Balkans and Afghanistan.