’Burden-sharing’ and the 2 percent of GDP Solution: A Study in Military Absurdity
By Anthony H. Cordesman
July 31, 2019
Executive Summary
NATO remains the keystone of Western security. It provides the best possible real-world option for the West in every major aspect of collective security: dealing with Russia, countering extremism and terrorism, and finding functional approaches to out-of-area cooperation.
It also is making progress in spite of the differences between its members, their different interests and security policies, and the many challenges they face. As the Secretary General’s Annual Report for 2018 makes clear, NATO has many productive initiatives underway that do focus on its real security needs, and that will help deter Russia and deal with the key issues in its military readiness and force planning. In fact, some 90% of the Secretary General’s report focuses on such issues.
https://www.csis.org/analysis/burden-sharing-and-2-percent-gdp-solution-study-military-absurdity
