Really? My own country is in there but still...really?
Where have they been during the past three years?
The story of The Little Red Hen. None of these countries wanted to play a role when the $hit hit the fan, but now that the war is winding down, they want a piece of the peace pie.
Well, let’s see now. I assume from your user-name your country is the UK. It has aided Ukraine fairly strongly considering its minimal* weapons stocks, and it has always made at least the 2% of GDP defense spending target.
*Somewhat understandable - the UK’s defense spending somewhat naturally tends toward assets not particularly useful in a grinding land war.
That said, the UK really should be at at least 2.5% now.
Germany and France breeched the 2% target last year, with Germany having come the furthest, so, I’ll give all 3 a “C”.
Poland has been spectacular, they get an “A”.
Italy and Spain have been real slackers, especially Spain, though I respect Italy’s weapons’ tech more: It’d be quite helpful if Meloni got on the stick, so to speak, and put real money where her mouth is.
Not included in this statement are the Finns, the Swedes, the Danes, the Norwegians, and the Baltics, all of whom get B’s or A’s for support so far. Their individual economies and populations are not large, but their cumulative capabilities can be useful, and the border of the Baltics and esp. Finland with Russia are significant factors. Are they “all in”? Put pen to paper, baby, then get the 2025 targets stated and ramp ups going.
One note: The Euro’s really have to stay “tight” on this and get the job done. If not, it (a fractured Europe) would be the most dangerous development in Europe since the 1930’s. Likely more so, as nukes are fairly easily attainable for any of the medium size countries, when things get dicey.