NATO European Allies to Jointly Buy Planes, Set Up New Elite HQ

[Geee]

Free Beacon:

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – European NATO allies agreed on Thursday to jointly buy planes and submarines and possibly open a new command headquarters for elite troops as Europe seeks to show the United States it is serious about its own security.

 

In signing ceremonies at NATO, defense ministers from France and Germany said they will buy Lockheed Martin C-130J transport planes, while Germany, Belgium, and Norway will join a Netherlands-led fleet of Airbus A330 tanker planes.

 

"This multinational cooperation through NATO is a clear way for countries to significantly improve their armed forces while ensuring the greatest value for money for their taxpayers," said Rose Gottemoeller, NATO‘s deputy secretary general.

 

The letters of intent, although not legally binding, are the latest sign that European allies are starting to end years of competing national strategies that have left Europe reliant on the United States to provide basics such as refueling combat planes in the air.

 

New U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis warned NATO allies on Wednesday they must pay more towards their own defenses or potentially see less support from Washington.

 

Duplication is also a problem, with EU militaries owning 19 types of armored infantry fighting vehicles, compared with one in the United States, while wasted funds amount to 25 billion euros a year, according to European Commission data.

[Geee]

Mattis delivers a warning to NATO ministers on spending

 

 

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/mattis-delivers-a-warning-to-nato-ministers-on-spending/article/feed/2176561