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The U.S. pressures Europe to spend more on the military
by Joseph Earnest March 1, 2016
Newscast Media COPENHAGEN,
Denmark—According to Danish newspaper Berlingske, the US is pushing the line
that the ‘Russian threat’ is real and must be confronted via military
means, essentially starting a new Cold War. However, some nations remain
skeptical of Washington’s rhetoric.
This diplomatic effort comes
ahead of the upcoming NATO summit scheduled to take place in Warsaw in
July, as Washington seeks to persuade European member states to increase
their financial contribution to the alliance’s needs.
"I think
that the Danish government knows what I, as an American ambassador,
think about the Danish defense budget," US ambassador to Copenhagen
Rufus Gifford told Berlingske.
"For a very long time we have
known that European countries have cut their defense spending. But now
is the time to reinvest. It will be a very important subject at the July
summit in Warsaw."
Denmark currently spends about 1.2 percent of its GDP on defense, which the US apparently thinks is not enough.
"The current trend (to cut on defense spending) must completely stop. And I do mean completely stop," the ambassador reiterated.
Therefore,
he added, it is important for the US that the summit participants agree
on the necessity to spend more on defense throughout Europe.
Germany,
the Netherlands, Belgium, France and the UK have apparently taken heed
of Washington’s message and have announced increased defense budgets for
the coming years, Berlingske remarks, and Norway is also considering
ramping up its military spending.
Meanwhile, Denmark’s Chief of
Defense Peter Bartram who, following his appointment in 2012 was tasked
with trimming the defense budget, has publically announced that he
expects the government to increase military funding in 2017. Add
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Source: Al Manar TV News
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