[Goose]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-contin...35278.html

The Telegraph often publishes pieces that are "questionable" at best. However, I think many of the points made in this piece have some validity, particularly the political realities in many European countries. The 3.5% vs 2% comparison is obviously flawed, as most European nations have no desire or need to project power in the Pacific, while the US clearly does. To meet the 2+ war standard, the US actually needed almost 5% of GDP. OTOH, the comments regarding NIH and parochialism in the EU are spot on. The US is bad in that area too, but we are paragons of virtue compared to say France, Spain, or Italy. Germany is "different", but still has a "Don't buy American" as it's standard policy. This is partly in response to the fact that before the fall of the Warsaw Pact, they were often forced to buy American. They want to make up for that.

Sweden will add "spice" to that mix because they have a long history of not buying anything military from outside the country if at all possible. In the past this could be justified by the need to remain "neutral". What will be the reason now?

[Goose]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/europe-contin...35278.html

The Telegraph often publishes pieces that are "questionable" at best. However, I think many of the points made in this piece have some validity, particularly the political realities in many European countries. The 3.5% vs 2% comparison is obviously flawed, as most European nations have no desire or need to project power in the Pacific, while the US clearly does. To meet the 2+ war standard, the US actually needed almost 5% of GDP. OTOH, the comments regarding NIH and parochialism in the EU are spot on. The US is bad in that area too, but we are paragons of virtue compared to say France, Spain, or Italy. Germany is "different", but still has a "Don't buy American" as it's standard policy. This is partly in response to the fact that before the fall of the Warsaw Pact, they were often forced to buy American. They want to make up for that.

Sweden will add "spice" to that mix because they have a long history of not buying anything military from outside the country if at all possible. In the past this could be justified by the need to remain "neutral". What will be the reason now?