U.S. again urges NATO allies to boost defense spending (2% of their GDP)

U.S. National Security Advisor Susan Rice on Wednesday once again urged NATO members to increase their spending on defense in the light of the Ukrainian crisis.

"As we approach the NATO summit in Wales this September, we expect every ally to pull its full weight through increased investment in defense and upgrading our alliance for the future," the top foreign policy advisor to President Barack Obama said in remarks delivered at the Center for a New American Security in Washington D.C.

"Europe needs to take defense spending seriously and meet NATO' s benchmark -- at least two percent of GDP -- to keep our alliance strong and dynamic," she stressed, echoing a refrain repeated lately by Obama, Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel and Secretary of State John Kerry following the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis.

• Of NATO's 28 member states, only four -- the United States, Estonia, Greece and Britain -- have defense budgets of at least two percent of GDP.

"Just as we reassure allies in the face of Russia's actions, we must upgrade NATO's ability to meet challenges to its south," Rice said.

Russia retook Crimea from Ukraine in March and has been accused of destabilizing eastern Ukraine by Washington and its allies.

In her speech, Rice also defended the Obama administration's preferred approach to collective action in its handling of foreign policy issues, a central theme of the president's speech at the U. S. Military Academy in West Point in late May.

"Collective action has long been the hallmark of effective American leadership," the advisor said. "When we spur collective action, we deliver outcomes that are more legitimate, more sustainable and less costly."

"In today's world, the reality is: many transnational security challenges can only be addressed through collective action," she added.
 Xinhua, June 12, 2014 
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Related:

• US training more special forces in eastern Europe after Ukraine

• Russia starts military drills in Kaliningrad Region simultaneously with NATO’s maneuvers

• Response to NATO buildup will be "political and military" (Deputy Foreign Minister Vladimir Titov)

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• NATO defense ministers to review collective defense measures due to Ukraine crisis (to raise defence spending 2% of their GDP)

• NATO Defence Ministers discuss collective defence, Summit priorities

• Bulgarian President calls for ‘more Europe’, gradual increase in defence spending. -(The Nato norm of 2% of GDP)

• Hagel calls on NATO allies must step up defense spending. (2% of their GDP)

• Kerry urges NATO members to increase defense budget. --["Freedom isn't free"]