Pence Seeks To Reassure Nervous European Allies, Vows U.S. Commitment To NATO

[Captain Obvious]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/18/515933608/pence-seeks-to-reassure-nervous-european-allies-vows-u-s-commitment-to-nato


Vice President Mike Pence told European allies Saturday that the U.S. remains committed to NATO, despite President Trump's praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated interest in pursuing better relations with Russia.
In a speech during his first overseas trip since taking office, Pence told leaders at the Munich Security Conference in Germany that the U.S. "strongly supports" NATO and that "the United States is now and will always be your greatest ally."

But Pence echoed President Trump's demand for NATO members to spend more on beefing up their military capacity, saying that the promise to "share the burden" has gone "unfulfilled" by almost all of the alliance's 28 member countries. Members of NATO have committed to spending at least 2 percent of GDP on defense, but Pence said the U.S. and only four other NATO members actually do.


http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/02/18/gettyimages-642517562_wide-1d487ea27fa1051e4151f59410fd6fce028386ab-s800-c85.jpg

[Newpublius]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/18/515933608/pence-seeks-to-reassure-nervous-european-allies-vows-u-s-commitment-to-nato



http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/02/18/gettyimages-642517562_wide-1d487ea27fa1051e4151f59410fd6fce028386ab-s800-c85.jpg

#outofnato

Well at least maybe they'll put more money on the table. In another article I read that we are threatening to 'moderate' our NATO committment unless they do so.

Europe does NOT need the US to defend it.

#outofnato now!

[MMC]

Yep, he did let the Euros know that they need not tremble and act like our illiberals here in the US. We still got their back.


Mattis had already told them to start meeting their 2% GDP commitment.


Although, Mattis should have singled out Canada's ass for not even trying to get close.

[MMC]

http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/02/18/515933608/pence-seeks-to-reassure-nervous-european-allies-vows-u-s-commitment-to-nato



http://media.npr.org/assets/img/2017/02/18/gettyimages-642517562_wide-1d487ea27fa1051e4151f59410fd6fce028386ab-s800-c85.jpg

Defense Secretary James Mattis addressed members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels on Wednesday, offering a peaceful ultimatum on behalf of the American people.


“I owe it to you all to give you clarity on the political reality in the United States and to state the fair demand from my country’s people in concrete terms,” Mattis told foreign dignitaries in a closed-room meeting (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/checkpoint/wp/2017/02/15/mattis-trumps-defense-secretary-issues-ultimatum-to-nato-allies-on-defense-spending/?utm_term=.8bb958725487). “America will meet its responsibilities, but if your nations do not want to see America moderate its commitment to the alliance, each of your capitals needs to show its support for our common defense.”


Of the current 28 member states, only five spend the required 2 percent GDP on defense budgets.



“No longer can the American taxpayer carry a disproportionate share of the defense of western values,” Mattis said. “Americans cannot care more for your children’s security than you do. Disregard for military readiness demonstrates a lack of respect for ourselves, for the alliance and for the freedoms we inherited, which are now clearly threatened.”
Major members who have refused to pay their fair share are France (1.78 percent), Germany (1.19), Italy (1.11) and Canada (.99).......snip~

http://media.townhall.com/_townhall/uploads/2017/2/15/4.png


http://thepoliticalforums.com/threads/78683-Secretary-Mattis-to-NATO-Countries-It-s-Time-to-Pay-Up!?p=1931738#post1931738


What do you think Cap? Should Canada ante up or what?