Should the U.K. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?
The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance formed by 28 countries in 1949 after the Second World War. To join NATO each member country pledged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on military spending and defense and defend each other against threats from any non-member country. In a July 2016 interview with the New York Times Republican Presidential nominee Donald Trump suggested that the United States would not defend NATO member countries who had failed to increase their military budgets to above 2% of Gross Domestic Product. The suggestion defie…
Read more@9ML76JD1wk1W
Nato as a whole should have each member play to its strengths, if some countries can provide more of an economic or natural resource benefit, then they should concentrate on that and other countries should defend them, but share the benifits. So nato as a whole can grow and be productive without every member being the same but just different sizes. Some countries make better tanks, so make tanks, some countries make better aircraft, so make aircraft. Everyone's different so use that, bit make sure everyone contributes something useful.
@9ML76J31wk1W
NATO coubtries should work together to ensure that worldwide, there are enough resources to defend any country within NATO. But no single country should be relied upon more heavily than another.
@9MGWXP72wks2W
No we need to leave NATO and create a alliance with Russia China and any other country that wants to join
@9M47XPZ3wks3W
We should stand by our allies, however if it comes to an us or them situation the government should look after the UK first and work to help our ally once the UK's security has been confirmed
@9M3RVZJ3wks3W
Yes, but we should be pushing for a NATO reform where a penalty applies if a country fails to meet its commitment.
@9M3675R3wks3W
Yes, but a binding agreement follows, should we protect and build their country into a better defence, they become our allies and defend us should we need it.
@9M2PBRJLiberal Democrat4wks4W
Offer the amount of defense equivalent to the percentage they spend. I.e. if the country chooses to only spend 1% of their GDP, then offer half the defense promised to them, to incentivise their adherence to the NATO pact.
@96HY77K2yrs2Y
Yes, as long as that country is not the aggressor
@96B4JMT2yrs2Y
Yes, but spending 2% of GDP on defence should be a legal requirement of NATO membership, and failure to do so should result in legal enforcement against the country in question or temporary suggestion of some or all of their membership benefits.
@964JPJR2yrs2Y
Yes, but having an agreement of a minimum % spend of GDP on defence does sound sensible
@964GYTM2yrs2Y
We should not defend members who fail to meet the obligations set out in the treaty.
@95ZVNXR2yrs2Y
Yes but only financially viable
Yes, as When we are under attack we get support and can maintain a friendly relationship
@94Z26PG2yrs2Y
Yes, but only if defending them serves the interest of the UK
@94JPB6W2yrs2Y
depends on there risk and current state
@94JFDDB2yrs2Y
Countries with extremely low spending should not be allowed membership
@94CP6S32yrs2Y
Negotiate with the countries to raise their spending , and if they don’t we wouldn’t be able to afford to secure them
@948C72CLiberal Democrat2yrs2Y
Yes, but each member country of NATO should commit a specific percentage of GDP to defence
it depends on why the other country isn't spending as much on defence
@93VGXT32yrs2Y
Yes, defend other NATO countries at all times however every NATO country must be committed to military spending consistently at same percentage of GDP as all other members
@93GMFY72yrs2Y
Give support to weaker nations, but also work to improve diplomatic relations with nations with strained relations with the UK.
@93GCS6ZConservative2yrs2Y
Yes, but put pressure on them to increase to at least 2%
@93FG3F92yrs2Y
we should give as much help as they invest into nato
I'd rather have those countries be able to defend themselves and use other NATO members as a last resort.
We should send our support and resources before we send fighters
@92NNDCS2yrs2Y
Yes, as long as we are members we should abide by the membership rules. However, we should suggest NATO introducing an equal % of membership contribution.
@jdp20222yrs2Y
Yes, but counties should be obligated to meet the minimum spending
@92GGL8R2yrs2Y
No, and we need to work towards abolishing NATO.
@92FXBSY2yrs2Y
Article 5 states we will defend all NATO territory so we have an obligation to.
If they're in the club no matter what they pay their in the club
@92C3V742yrs2Y
Yes, but hold them to account and encourage them to increase defence spending.
@92C326S2yrs2Y
Yes, but those countries should be pressurised to step up and pay up fairly at at least 2% of their GDP.
@92BN9VV2yrs2Y
Countries not spending 2% should be moved out of NATO
@929RBY72yrs2Y
...this is more complex than the responses allow.
@924YX9Y2yrs2Y
NATO should set its own spending legislation
@922HHM92yrs2Y
No, a requirement of nato should be that the country should have adequate spending
@8ZX88H5Liberal Democrat2yrs2Y
Yes, if aid is requested by those countries
@8ZX83YC2yrs2Y
Yes, if aid is requested
Only in outstanding circumstances
@8YW9T7D2yrs2Y
it depends how risky there siutation is
@8YT5H7X2yrs2Y
it depends on the size of the military
@8YL9BMN2yrs2Y
Governments are the reason why wars happen. Without corrupt criminals in politics (from the UK and the US, all the way to PRC) then wars wouldn't happen and military spending wouldn't be needed.
@8YGGHN72yrs2Y
NATO needs to stop it’s expansion.
@8Y72N7Y2yrs2Y
Yes we should protect ANYONE that TRULY needs protecting.
@8Y5G5NB2yrs2Y
Defend but encourage countries to increase their military spending
@8Y4P4T42yrs2Y
Defend others, but reduce overall spending on the military.
@8XN9JRTConservative2yrs2Y
Yes but we should encourage all NATO members to meet the 2% commitment.
@8XGP32P3yrs3Y
Yes, but need to encourage a greater defence budget
@8XDGYX33yrs3Y
Only in certain circumstances
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