I never want to hear anyone try to say NATO isn't just an international military that is guided / deeply influenced by American foreign policy ever again. One of the few good things to ever come from the Trump fiasco is that they're finally saying the quiet parts out loud, but the fact that this will receive no coverage, let alone criticism, means that might just be even more dangerous for all of us, even outside the Atlantic.
The world is on fire and humanity is prioritising manufacturing our own suicide above investing in fire extinguishers.
Over many years, the United States has criticised NATO Allies for not spending enough on defence. Rightly so. And I commend the U.S. leadership on this important issue. But things have changed.
All Allies have increased defence investments. Adding an additional 450 billion dollars. NATO Allies have committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defence. And many are exceeding that target already. For example, this year Poland will spend more than 4%. No other Ally spends more.
With more money, we are boosting our defence industry.
NATO creates a market for defence sales.
Over the last two years, NATO Allies have agreed to purchase 120 billion dollars’ worth of weapons from U.S. defence companies.
Including thousands of missiles to the U.K, Finland and Lithuania, Hundreds of Abrams tanks to Poland and Romania, And hundreds of F-35 aircraft across many European Allied nations – a total of 600 by 2030. From Arizona to Virginia, Florida to Washington state, American jobs depend on American sales to defence markets in Europe and Canada.
What you produce keeps people safe. What Allies buy keeps American businesses strong. So NATO is a good deal for the United States.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The Heritage Foundation stands for the power of ideas that keep America strong. NATO is an incredibly powerful idea. That advances U.S. interests. And multiplies America’s power.
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