Posted on Feb 21, 2017
Col Joseph Lenertz
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Six members of the 28-member NATO alliance meet the commitment they signed up to when they joined. The rest enjoy the protection of the US and the rest of NATO without paying their fair share. What carrots and sticks would be most effective in getting them to meet their commitments?
http://www.economist.com/blogs/graphicdetail/2017/02/daily-chart-11
Posted in these groups: NATOC842160b Foreign Policy
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SSG Aircraft Mechanic
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It's pretty sad that countries like Greece, given its recent issues, and Turkey have met their commitment every year since 1991, and a country like Estonia that has been getting on its feet since leaving the USSR meets it, even if it's inconsistently. But countries like The Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Luxembourg, which are 4 of the top 10 richest countries in Europe, either don't meet the commitment or barely contribute at all.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
Col Joseph Lenertz
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Yes, it's easy to see who the real leeches are. I'm amazed they had the guts to question the US's commitment, when we are meeting our obligations while they are NOT.
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Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen
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Probably some sort of reverse carrot before the horse concept. Pull back from cross training, exercises, financial support etc. with countries that aren't living up to obligations and shift emphasis to countries that are. In the short term this isn't going to impact NATO operations, but will send the message that unless obligations are met their country will become second or third class members of the organization. In the long term NATO will learn to operate with less emphasis on support to countries not living up to their obligations.
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SGM Erik Marquez
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Three fold approach.
1:If we currently provide aid to one of those countries, all future payments will have the amount of Their last NATO alliance support deficit deducted post approved aid $$ amounts. IOW, if US Congress approves $1 mil in aid Marquezina in FY 19... and Marquezina had pledged $.8mil in NATO support FY 18, but transfered NONE, the US will provide no more than $.2 mil for FY 19 to Marquezina
2: Lean on other NATO countries to lobby the deficit ones... any country two years behind in NATO pledges will go on a list, said list and the $ amount deficit will be added up annually, and the US pledge overall to NATO will be reduced that amount for next FY.
3: De-fund NATO, evict them from the US HQ facilities. If they wish to purchase with hard cash the facility at fair market value, or other such property in the US , Fine. But no tax deals, no US appropriated funds will be used, no legal exceptions for NATO members in the US, they pay for license plate, pay parking tickets, their visiting members must have a valid visa, approved though the same system used by some potential immigrant in new Deli. No FREE LUNCH.
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Col Joseph Lenertz
Col Joseph Lenertz
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Outstanding! These are exactly the kind of targeted and sliding-scale consequences that we need to put in place. It's like children...if there are no consequences when you don't clean up your room...why would you ever clean up your room?
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Sgt Bob Leonard
Sgt Bob Leonard
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?"...evict them from the US HQ facilities."??

NATO Headquarters is located in Brussels, Belgium.
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SGM Erik Marquez
SGM Erik Marquez
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Sgt Bob Leonard - HQ Brussels yes, and perhaps Im mis remembering, but I thought there was a US center as well...perhaps not termed a HQ?
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