From Ivo Daalder, U.S. Mission to NATO:  Recent trends in defense spending threaten NATO’s ability to confidently face a dangerous and unpredictable future. Most European Allies are hollowing out their militaries, jettisoning capabilities, and failing to spend their existing budgets wisely. As a result, the gap between American and European contributions to the Alliance is widening to an unsustainable level.

Something must be done. The trends need to be reversed. Absent a renewed European commitment to investing in real defense capabilities, America’s European Allies will no longer be able to stand beside us as we confront security challenges of the future—challenges that are increasingly global in reach and in impact. . . .

NATO is a force multiplier—not only for the United States, but for any member state whose security is threatened. This is the Alliance that we want to be at our side … today, tomorrow, and into the future. . . .

Europe’s ability to serve as America’s partner of first resort is diminishing.

Europe is slashing defense budgets at the same time as emerging powers—in Asia and elsewhere—are making unprecedented investments in defense. 

If NATO wants to continue as a strong and capable Alliance, stabilizing an insecure world and serving as a beacon of democratic values, we need to maintain capabilities on par with our level of ambition—and on par with the truly global threats we face. . . .

Unfortunately, NATO’s capabilities – or, more precisely, European capabilities – are dwindling. And they are dwindling for one simple reason: European investment in defense has been on a prolonged period of decline. . . .

[A]side from the United States, today only 3 Allies – Estonia, Greece, and the United Kingdom – actually meet the NATO target of spending 2% of GDP on defense. Fully 19 Allies spend less than 1.5%.

The danger is not just for today – but for tomorrow. A lack of investing today, means less capability tomorrow – and thus a lessened capability to contribute to collective defense and collective security.

Let me be clear, if spending cuts continue along their present trajectory, I am not confident that ten – or even five – years from now, NATO will be able to replicate its success in Libya.

And remember, Libya was a very modest operation—only one-fifth the size of Kosovo in terms of the number of sorties and aircraft flown.

What’s more, NATO does not exist in a vacuum. Let’s put these trends in global context. Last year, for the first time in modern history, Asia outspent NATO-Europe on defense. China is doubling its military spending every five years. Russia plans to raise its defense budget to 6% of GDP within a decade. . . .

[A]n Alliance that treats every member as equal—where every voice carries equal weight, every country has a seat at the table, and where we reach every decision by consensus—that kind of Alliance is unsustainable when the collective burden is distributed so unequally. . . .

I recognize that these challenges will be difficult to overcome. But let’s recognize that they pale in comparison to the adversity that NATO has confronted, and over which NATO has triumphed, during its 64-year history.

As an Alliance, we know that in a dangerous world, we are safer together.

Excerpts from remarks by U.S. Ambassador to NATO Ivo Daalder, July 17, 2013.  (photo: France 24)

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