Why Europe became a baby

[Tsing Tao]

Agree, but I think we can also agree that today's age demands more flexible agreements and the ability to make adjustments. That is one of the big reasons why the UK will exit the EU (due to the inflexibility of many EU institutions). I think a 2% of GDP budget for defense is way too high for Central Europe. They are not surrounded my rouge states and hiring top IT/CS talent to combat today's advanced "weaponry" does not cost 2% of GDP, well, maybe Greek's GDP but certainly not Germany's.

I agree with everything you say here. But it should be negotiated through the mechanisms that exist. Simply not paying gives leaders like Trump an excuse to say "They don't pay their fair share".

 

[AAAintheBeltway]

Two areas we can save a lot of money: NATO and United Nations.

One is no longer needed, the other is an obvious failure.

 

[piezoe]

I think, but could be wrong, he is speaking to the fact that Germany does not spend the required 2% of it's GDP on NATO defense, whereas the US spends above and beyond. The argument could therefore be made that the US is subsidizing Germany (and a host of other countries that also fail to do so).

Germany's spending is also declining.

At least we are moving in the right direction. That's encouraging.