NOT THE 1990s ANY MOREDespite regular calls for increased European defense spending, the United States has opposed EU defense integration efforts for decades. As the United States remains the backbone of the continent’s defense, American skepticism of European defense initiatives has prompted opposition within the EU. It must reassure eastern Europe that EU defense initiatives will not diminish Washington’s commitment to NATO and European security. Backing EU defense will also require the United States to accept that spending will primarily boost the European defense industrial base, a necessary step to ensure European resilience and domestic political buy-in. Now is the time for Europe to step up and launch the defense effort the European Union and NATO need.

Source: The North Africa Journal November 18, 2021 06:15 UTC