German media outlets Süddeutsche Zeitung, WDR, and NDR also cite the report, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin appears intent on testing NATO’s Article 5 guarantees. The alliance’s mutual defence clause obliges member states to come to one another’s aid if attacked. The assessment suggests Putin may seek to challenge how seriously that commitment would be honoured.

  • index
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    3
    arrow-down
    6
    ·
    7 days ago

    Having an higher GDP doesn’t mean you have to spend more

    • Kusimulkku@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      7 days ago

      Well sure, but it’s a good start for a comparison. Best would be to add in the existing capability, the level of threat, size of the country, that sort of stuff.

      It’s just that even Germans have now realized that their chronic underspending has really hurt them and now to have any sort of respectable defence they’ll need to spend more. A more moderate amount for a longer time would’ve been better but it is what it is.

          • index
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            5
            ·
            7 days ago

            With billions spend on it yearly sound like it’s on pair with most countries around the world