First appearance on Fox: According to former President Mike Pence’s lobbying group American Advancement of Freedom (AAF), the US military could become embroiled in a war with Russia if surrounding North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries fail to increase military spending. be.
In a memo sent to Congress on Tuesday, the AAF argues that several countries are not meeting the 2% obligation recognized by NATO in 2014, and the heaviest burden remains on the United States. During Russia’s invasion of Crimea, only the United States, United Kingdom, and Greece complied with their treaty obligations, with non-compliant countries spending an average of 1.3% of GDP on defense.
Additionally, under the Biden administration, some countries such as Turkey, Norway, and Italy have seen their spending regress, approaching 2014 levels, despite overall growth in spending, the memo said.
“In contrast, the Trump-Pence administration has made improving burden-sharing among allies a key priority to achieve greater foreign policy impact,” the memo said.
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Mike Pence’s group argues that if NATO allies remain complacent, the United States could be pushed into a war with Russia. (U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force)
“This trend is particularly worrying when observed in countries bordering Russia and Ukraine,” the note said, adding that “countries closest to the conflict should bear the greatest burden.” Ta.
The 2% obligation refers to a commitment by NATO allies to allocate at least 2% of their GDP to defense spending.
After the annexation of Crimea, all NATO countries in the region increased their defense spending, while Norway and Romania remained under the Biden administration despite increased activity from Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. military spending was reduced. The AAF concluded that the United States “must find a way.” Encourage, and where necessary pressure, allies to support an end to NATO’s burden-sharing obligations.
“Unless these trends are reversed, our deterrence strategy will likely fail, Russia will likely invade our NATO allies, and the United States will be required to send troops abroad to uphold our Article V mutual defense pledge,” the memo said. “It will be,” it says.
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Former Vice President Mike Pence. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
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March Short, chairman of the AAF Board of Governors, told Fox News Digital on Tuesday that “NATO is an alliance with the U.S. has received understandable criticism from many conservatives for paying the bills.” Spending. ”
“In the midst of a new Cold War with the Chinese Communist Party, a resurgent Russia, and its partner in crime in the Middle East, Iran, the Biden administration has failed to strengthen NATO by holding member states accountable for the 2% obligation,” Short said. I’ve come,” he said. “Under the Biden administration, only one NATO member has joined the 2% club.”
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U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy visit St. Michael’s Cathedral in Kiev, Ukraine, on February 20, 2023, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine. (Reuters/Gleb Galanich)
Monday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky He said critical U.S. weapons are starting to arrive in Ukraine in small quantities, but there is a need to move more quickly. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also told Ukrainians on Monday that NATO member states have failed to meet military aid commitments in recent months, but that the flow of arms and ammunition will increase in the future.
Last week, the US Congress also passed a $60 billion aid package to help Ukraine continue its war against Russia, which has been under discussion for months. The controversial aid was added to a $95 billion foreign aid package that President Joe Biden signed shortly after.
Reuters contributed to this report.
