Former President Mike Pence’s lobbying group, Advancing American Freedom (AAF), has issued a warning that U.S. troops could be drawn into a conflict with Russia if NATO allies do not increase their military spending. In a memo sent to Congress, AAF highlighted the failure of several NATO countries to meet their 2% GDP obligation for defense spending, leaving the burden on the U.S.
The memo pointed out that only the U.S., U.K., and Greece met their treaty obligations during Russia’s Crimea invasion in 2014, with non-compliant countries averaging just 1.3% of GDP on defense. Under the Biden administration, countries like Turkey, Norway, and Italy have regressed in their military spending, moving closer to 2014 levels despite overall spending growth.
The group emphasized the importance of NATO allies, especially those bordering Russia and Ukraine, taking on a larger share of the defense burden. Failure to do so could result in the U.S. being forced to send troops overseas to honor its mutual defense pledge under Article 5 of the NATO treaty.
AAF called on the U.S. to find ways to encourage and pressure its allies to uphold their end of the burden-sharing commitment. The group’s chairman, March Short, criticized the Biden administration for neglecting to strengthen NATO and hold members accountable for their spending obligations.
The warning comes amid increased Russian activity, including a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The U.S. has recently passed a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine’s war efforts, with NATO promising to increase the flow of arms and ammunition to the country.
As tensions with Russia continue to escalate, the issue of NATO allies meeting their defense spending obligations has become a critical concern. The AAF memo serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences if these obligations are not met, highlighting the importance of collective defense in the face of growing threats.
