As the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) celebrates 75 years since its creation, some political figures, mounting the so-called “America First” platform, have excoriated allies for failing to do “their share.”
Worse, we have witnessed a former (and would be again) American president issue an invitation to Russia to "do whatever the hell they want" to any American ally that doesn't pay up.
Such reckless talk endangers the US and its allies both now and in the future.
Needed assurances
A collective defense system depends on assurances that all allies would react to a threat, thereby facing a potential aggressor with multiple adversaries, not just one victim. To apply a "transactional" approach to the NATO alliance betrays a longstanding — and usually bipartisan — commitment.
Moreover, framing NATO as a protection racket, while making lurid headlines, is both unworthy and misleading. In 2014 NATO formalized a guideline for members to spend an amount equal to 2% of their GDP on defense. This was in response to Russia’s annexation of territory in Georgia and Ukraine and aimed at reversing declining defense spending across Europe after end of the Cold War.
Since then, allied defense expenditure has grown steadily. In 2014 only two NATO allies meet the 2% target. By 2023 ten did so. The ten-year goal established for having two-thirds of the members meet this target will be met this year.
More broadly, a ”transactional” approach ignores the range of significant ways the NATO alliance benefits the United States and its interests and continues to do so. Created in 1949 in response to Soviet extension of control deep into Europe, NATO settled the debate as to whether or not the U.S. should have an obligation to protect peace and democracy in Europe.
Since then, America has embraced this obligation and the gains for us have been clear — Europe is by far our biggest trade and investment partner. When the Cold War ended, the alliance helped end the division of Europe by admitting all of the East European states, the Baltic countries, and four new states emerging from former Yugoslavia.
There NATO acted to end aggression and protect populations in Bosnia and Kosovo. The force keeping the fragile peace in Kosovo, imperfect as the status quo might be, is composed of 73% European NATO nations.
While the US retaliated for the 9/11 attack on its own in Afghanistan, Washington handed over leadership to the NATO mission in 2003. By the end, NATO countries were supplying more than three-quarters of the forces there.
Pirates and Russians
At sea, allies like France and Italy are central to actions against pirates and human smuggling in the Mediterranean and east of Africa.
In 2022, in response to the threat from China to free passage and commerce in the South China Sea (accounting for some 60% of maritime trade), NATO declared its “shared security interests” in the region and its members have provided both rhetorical and concrete assets.
In the face of Russian aggression in Europe, it is the alliance's European members who would be "on point.” A Ukraine-style attack would take place "over there," giving the U.S. strategic time and space to prepare a response.
Despite their direct exposure, Poland, the Baltic states and Romania have shown unrelenting courage (and increased spending) in the face of Russian hostility as well as generous charity in taking in large numbers of refugees from Ukraine (nearly one million in Poland alone). Virtually every single NATO ally provides more government support for Ukraine (as a percentage of GDP ) than does the United States.
NATO countries provide the U.S. with forward territory and bases from which the defense of Europe can be planned, and the actions of Russia can be observed and challenged. In East Europe, NATO has eight reinforced multinational battlegroups.
Romania, for example, hosts two NATO air bases, a ballistic missile defense system and a navy base on the Black Sea. The entrance of military ships to that crucial area is controlled by NATO-ally Turkey in a way broadly favorable to Ukraine and its supporters. Economically, Romania has provided crucial support to Ukraine as the chief alternative source of grain exports despite the Russian blockade of the country.
Finally, the NATO allies represent a model of values supportive and reflective of US interests and goals. While NATO does not scrutinize domestic systems as a requirement for membership as the EU does, NATO lobbies its members to follow the norms of democracy and criticizes some (e.g. Hungary, Turkey) when they don't.
Globally, NATO embodies a voluntary alliance with militaries under civilian control, a stark contrast to the authoritarian nationalisms practiced by Russia and, increasingly, China.
Grave danger to security
The presence and efforts of these allies without question supports Washington’s view of a desirable global order. Reducing their contribution to a bookkeeping exercise does a disservice to the alliance’s members, some of whom are in much greater direct danger than the US.
Most importantly, such a simplistic approach does not put "America first.” It puts in grave danger the whole post-Cold War order that reinforces American security.
Ronald H. Linden is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Pittsburgh, where he directed the Russian and East European Studies and European Studies programs. From 1989 to 1991 he served as director of research for Radio Free Europe.
First Published: April 27, 2024, 9:30 a.m.