THE REGULARS: Denigrating efforts of NATO members doesn’t enhance US leadership – Sioux City Journal

There is only one thing worse than fighting with allies, and that is fighting without them.

World attention has recently focused on North Korea. Not long ago, however, the focus was on Europe. Questions were raised as to whether the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was obsolete and whether some countries owe money to others. Having served at the nexus of the military and civilian levels of NATO, I have my own observations on the topic.

First off, all member countries pay to support the operations of the organization. No country has failed to make the full agreed-to payments.

What the majority of countries have failed to do is meet a goal of spending two percent of their gross domestic product (GDP) on defense matters. Of the 29 member countries, only the U.S., United Kingdom, Greece, Estonia and Poland meet the two percent GDP guideline. This goal was originally set in 2006, and was confirmed in 2014 stating that countries would aim to move toward the 2 percent guidelines within a decade. As a sign that members are taking that pledge seriously, overall defense spending by non-U.S. NATO members increased 3.6 percent in 2016.

While much of the attention regarding NATO member spending relates to the 2 percent guideline, it is not the sole measure of commitment. Greece, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovenia provide relevant contrasts.

Greece meets the NATO two percent goal, and has a defense structure of 106,000 personnel. The Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovenia spend approximately half the defense spending of Greece. The Czechs, Dutch and Slovenians have 23,000, 41,000 and 7,000 service members, respectively.

However, in support of NATOs mission in Afghanistan, the Czechs have deployed 214 personnel, the Dutch 100, the Slovenians seven and the Greeks four. Latvia has 22 deployed from a force one-20th the size of Greece. In fairness, Greece has 112 soldiers supporting the NATO mission in Kosovo, but the Slovenians have 252.

So, while GDP is important, it tells us little about how countries are having an impact on operations that NATO undertakes. It should also be of note that the Czechs have had 10 fatalities in Afghanistan, the Dutch 25 and the Latvians three.

The NATO mission in Afghanistan is also relevant for other reasons. First, approximately 5,000 service members from every NATO country except Canada presently serve in Afghanistan, continuing a presence that NATO members have had since 2003. Second, while NATO was formed to deter and, if necessary, fight war in Europe, its longest continuous combat mission was in Asia, and in response to a non-state actor. In response to piracy of the Horn of Africa, it was a NATO command that stopped the attacks and increased the safety to commerce.

None of this is to say that everything with NATO is smooth. Member states need to invest more in their security. NATO members need to ensure their forces are well-trained, well-equipped, deployable and relevant to the security missions facing the alliance.

NATO has ensured stability and security in Europe since the end of World War II. This period is arguably the longest stretch of time without a significant conflict among the major countries of Europe since the Pax Romana.

An old Army manual described leadership as the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction and motivation while operating to accomplish the mission. Denigrating the efforts being made by NATO members and raising doubts about American commitment doesnt enhance our leadership. As written in I Corinthians, For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself for battle?

Writer's note: The views expressed are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the United States Army or Department of Defense.

Next week: Charese Yanney

A Sioux City resident, Steve Warnstadt is government affairs coordinator for Western Iowa Tech Community College and a former Democratic state senator. He and his wife, Mary, are the parents of one son and one daughter.

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THE REGULARS: Denigrating efforts of NATO members doesn't enhance US leadership - Sioux City Journal