By Gary Raynaldo       DIPLOMATIC  TIMES 

NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller reminded European Allies that without the right resources, the military alliance “cannot guarantee our security.”  Gottemoeller laid out the importance of defence spending at a time of unprecedented security challenges in a speech at the annual NATO Resource Conference in Paris October 16 at l’École Militaire entitled “Resourcing a Coherent and Credible Alliance”.

“We understand that, for the common project to work,  everyone has to shoulder a fair share of burden, provide cash, capabilities and contributions, and we know how essential these resources are.” the NATO Deputy Secretary stated.  Gottemoeller told the audience in Paris that France and NATO have a long history of working together to safeguard freedom and security. Gottemoeller stressed the military Alliance is facing a more assertive Russia: Moscow’s aggressive actions in Ukraine; its military buildup from the north of Europe to the Middle East; as well as the “offensive use of a nerve agent in the UK.”  Gottemoeller emphasized that Russia is not the only challenge NATO faces. She said since the 9/11 attacks on the United States, NATO has been at the forefront as well in the fight against terrorism. In response to new security challenges, Gottemoeller said NATO has bolstered operations in the fight against terrorism, updated the Alliance’s command structure, and is exchanging real time warnings on cyberattacks with the European Union in an “unprecedented level of cooperation.” However, Gottemoeller said proper financial resources are required. 

“These are the steps we are taking to ensure, at a time of increased instability, that our people are safe. But this does not come for free. That is why,  in  2014, every Ally agreed to stop cutting defence spending and to gradually move toward spending 2 percent of gross domestic product on defence,”  NATO Deputy Secretary General Gottemoeller. 

This year, European Allies and Canada have boosted their combined defence budgets by over 5%, to 5.2%, the biggest increase in real terms in a quarter of a century, according to the NATO Deputy Secretary General. She added that over the past two years, those same countries have spent a cumulative US $41 Billion more on defence.  “There is still a long way to go however.  We are heading in the right direction, but we have much more work to do,”  Gottemoeller said.