2mo ago

European taxpayers will want 'to see return' on 5% NATO spending increase, analyst says

www.france24.com

10 comments

European taxpayers would want to see a return in the form of job creation and defence industry development on European soil.
Include me as well, if we're spending all that money on us tech I am not going to be happy about that.
- Fair point, and I agree.
  But it also does need to be pointed out that building up the logistical pipelines that can create and sustain a truly viable and credible defense posture independent of the US is not going to be a cheap or fast process. Yes, Europe has benefited immensely in an economic sense from effectively delegating large parts of its defense infrastructure and policy to the US via NATO… but it’s pretty clear that era is ending (or really, has ended).
  I’m just shocked more European countries didn’t take it more seriously the first time he got elected.
  
  But it also does need to be pointed out that building up the logistical pipelines that can create and sustain a truly viable and credible defense posture independent of the US is not going to be a cheap or fast process.
  Unfortunately not, which is exactly why we shouldn't take the easy road and order ourselves some American weaponry. Definitely no new joint strike fighter for example.
  I’m just shocked more European countries didn’t take it more seriously the first time he got elected.
  But not as shocking as him becoming president again. Holy shit.
Well, i’m a Europian tax payer, and i just want my country to be safe. And i’ll happily spend some extra tax dollars for that.
- DOLLARS?!
  YANK DETECTED!
  
  ?
Not becoming part of Russia sounds like a decent return.
Over and above that, if the defence spending could put people in Europe to work at decent wages and serve as a Keynesian stimulus, that would be good. If we can get some dual-use goods (like upgrades to infrastructure of use for defence), that would also be useful.
- And while were working to remain outside Russia, train some cyberwarfare experts, launch a bunch of IT programs at universities, set-up funding for innovate tech start-ups. EU can do this. Fuck putin. Russian people need to be liberated beyond occupied Ukraine (ok, maybe that is a more longterm thing but), let's gooo.
Like what, more land taken by invasion? I'm also a European taxpayer and I would love a EU defense force, which would be the only other "return" that comes to mind.
Edit: Just to be clear, the first sentence was a joke.
- More likely they would overthrow governments that refuse to let them extract natural resources, as they have done in the past.

10 comments