European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, April 20, 2016. REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
Reuters: EU agrees defense budget increase as Britain lifts block
The European Union agreed on Tuesday to increase its military research budget for the first time since 2010 after Britain softened its opposition, a breakthrough that may signal British support for defense co-operation even once outside the bloc.
A day after agreeing a new defense plan aimed at making Europe less reliant on U.S. help, EU governments increased the 2017 funding of the European Defence Agency, which helps countries develop aircraft and other assets, by 1.6 percent, in line with inflation and taking the modest budget to 31 million euros ($33 million).
While well below the 6.5 percent rise the agency wanted, it was the first time in six years that Britain has not blocked an increase at the agency whose budget has shrunk 15 percent in real terms, EU officials said.
"It is still a symbolic increase," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini told a news conference.
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WNU Editor: What a joke .... they increase spending to $33 million, and they are applauding themselves. The EU may want a military force that is independent from NATO and the U.S. .... but this dream is just a dream for the simple reason that the EU does not want to spend the money to have such an army.
2 comments:
Looks like the social club dues are going up in the near future.
I would think they are not going to. Unfortunately by US leaders darting about the world to reassure "allies" of our commitments has sent exactly the wrong message. We should have been requesting these "allies" reassure us that they are going to have our backs.
By sending the wrong message they may reached the conclusion that the proper investment in the defense is unnecessary. If I'm team Trump, I'm telling these people I want time tables as to when European NATO allies will be ready to shoulder 100% of the costs for military action on the continent. Furthermore I want those timetables on my desk by inauguration day. Failure to do so will have severe negative consequences which will likely include a complete, total, and immediate withdrawing of all US military personnel and support from these countries.
We are prepared to work constructively with them in the achieving of the goal of 100% self sufficiency in military matters for European NATO members and we understand that the goal cannot be achieved overnight. They are going to need work constructively with us.
Part of the reason Mr. Trump was elected was because he stated in his campaign a desire and need to renegotiate NATO and other defense "agreements." If he fails to follow through on this and assuming the nation survives until the next POTUS election cycle, he will be replaced.
The next POTUS candidate may be Dr. Ron Paul or someone like him. In this case, we will not be talking about "renegotiating" but instead we will be talking about the complete and total removal of American support effective immediately. European NATO members should consider the election of Mr. Trump as "a shot across the bow."
This should be a prompter to them to GET MOVING on the proper investments in their defense and the appropriate changes to their foreign policy. Unfortunately some never learn. I suspect they wont either. After all these are the people who in the face of Brexit have doubled down on the policies that led to Brexit in the first place!!
Failure to renegotiate or make the proper defense investments and failure of team Trump to produce results in this area will likely result in the ascension to POTUS of someone like Dr. Ron Paul. If these people think Mr. Trump is a shock to the system, they ain't seen nothing yet. I'd strongly advise them to GET MOVING!!
I want that timetable on my desk when I enter the White House. While formulating the timetable, constructive dialogue is wanted and appreciated but it needs to be understood that failure to be reasonable in this area will result in the immediate removal of all American support. By "I" this means the appropriate members of team Trump.
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