The Fight to Revive Europe's Militaries Is Just Beginning
The pledge by NATO members to spend 3.5% of gross domestic product on military capabilities and 1.5% on defense infrastructure is the alliance's boldest commitment in decades. It concedes a basic truth: Russia's war in Ukraine has exposed critical shortfalls in Europe's defenses at a time when US support has become less certain. The challenge now is to translate that ambitious target into deployable firepower fast enough to meet the threat.
The starting point is finding the money to meet the new commitments. France, Italy and the UK already run heavy budget deficits. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is claiming his country has eked out a concession to spend just 2.1% of GDP. Over time, Germany's weak growth and fractious politics could undermine its resolve, despite the loosening of its debt brake. Discipline, and likely continued pressure from the US, will be required to ensure members don't renege on their spending promises.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kremlin says anti-government protests in Serbia could be an attempted 'colour revolution'
MOSCOW (Reuters) -The Kremlin said on Monday that it could not rule out the possibility that anti-government protests in Serbia, a close Russian ally, could be an attempted "colour revolution", but that it was sure the Serbian leadership could restore calm. Serbian police on Saturday clashed with anti-government protesters demanding snap elections and an end to the 12-year rule of President Aleksandar Vucic. "Despite the fact that Serbia is, of course, under unprecedented pressure - we cannot rule out that well-known methods are being used there to provoke colour revolutions," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. "We have no doubt that the current Serbian leadership will be able to restore law and order in the republic in the very near future," he added. Russia has traditionally regarded Vucic as a close ally and the Serbian leader was in Moscow on May 9 to watch the Red Square military parade held to commemorate the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two. Months of protests across Serbia, including university shutdowns, have rattled Vucic, a populist, whose second term ends in 2027, when there are also parliamentary elections scheduled. Vucic said unspecified "foreign powers" were behind the protest on Saturday and that protesters had been attempting to "topple Serbia" but had failed.
Bloomberg
35 minutes ago
- Bloomberg
Portugal One Step Closer to Relaunching Sale of State-Owned TAP
Portugal is moving closer to relaunching the sale of state-owned airline TAP SA after a prior attempt was derailed in 2023. The government has received two independent reports on the estimated valuation of TAP, a key step before it can move ahead with the privatization of the carrier. Lender Banco Finantia submitted its report last week, according to two people familiar with the process, as did accounting firm Ernst & Young.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
David Murray tarnished Rangers legacy and naive fans falling for Peter Lawwell nonsense must remember one thing
Record Sport's Keith Jackson isn't buying the narrative being pushed in Sir David Murray's new book. And neither are today's Hotline callers. Our chief sports writer has taken a swipe at the former Rangers owner's claims he was duped over the sale of the club to Craig Whyte in 2011. Advertisement READ MORE: I asked Sir David Murray something straight out about Rangers 15 years ago and we haven't spoken since – Keith Jackson READ MORE: 16 Celtic stars yet to report back for pre-season training as fringe men aim to catch the eye And Lewis Fotheringham, Mount Ellen, reckons Jacko was spot on with his assessment, saying: 'I have got to praise Keith Jackson's very personal column regarding David Murray. 'Murray says that he cared deeply about Rangers, but selling the club to Craig Whyte has tarnished whatever legacy he had. "This very action led to our eventual demise which we have never truly recovered from, despite that league title in 2021. Murray is as much to blame for our downfall as Whyte is." Advertisement And Liam Birney, Paisley, took issue with the former Ibrox chairman's blast at Celtic chief Peter Lawwell: 'So some Rangers fans are falling for the nonsense that Murray is spouting about Peter Lawwell doing Rangers a wrong. 'Can I remind them all it was under his tenure as Chairman that EBTs were used and that when he sold the club to Whyte for a quid, they were well down the road to liquidation. Also, is it not a Rangers or Celtic objective to bury their biggest rivals? Take some responsibility David!' Meanwhile, Lawrence Shankland's future remains up in the air after he skipped the flight to Hearts' pre-season training camp. But Alan Flett said: 'I'm sick fed-up of hearing that Rangers should sign Shankland. He's no better than what we've already got. Lawrence Shankland in action for Hearts 'I'd have Cyriel Dessers over Shankland every day of the week. Michael Beale, Philippe Clement and now Russell Martin have had the opportunity to sign Shankland and none of them did. Doesn't that tell you something?' Advertisement Regular caller Gordon Ashley ruffled a few feathers with his swipe at Hamza Igamane's potential transfer value. George Wilson, West Sussex, said: 'Rangers-obsessed Gordon Ashley apart from seemingly having insider knowledge about the potential sale of Hamza Igamane says Celtic play at a higher level in Europe. 'Unfortunately they have been a total embarrassment and regularly humiliated in Europe for the last 25 years. 'Last season they suffered several more Champions League hidings and only won three out of 10 games against the absolute worst three side out of 36 teams in the competition. 'Rangers on the other hand played Nice, Lyon, Spurs, Man Utd, Fenerbahce and Athletic Bilbao, who were collectively better than most of the dross Celtic faced.' Advertisement Alfie Mullin, London, added: 'Gordon Ashley claims that Celtic get higher transfer fees than Rangers do for their players because they play at a higher level in Europe. I suggest he replace the word 'play' with the word 'lose'.' Michael Emonds took aim at another called: 'Once again Jimmy Murray shows his ignorance in his understanding of the Celtic business model - which is to buy players for the right money, improve them and sell at a profit. 'He says the answer is scrap the model and sack serial winner John Kennedy and coach Gavin Strachan, get in new coaches to bring the young players through. 'But he doesn't understand that's the job of the pathway manager, who until recently was Darren O'Dea, who has just left for Swansea City and was last week replaced by Shaun Maloney. So let's see how many hopefuls he can get through the ranks.'
