EXCLUSIVE: 7 years after Putin invaded Crimea, EU underspent on defence by over $½ trillion
CIBUK.org
Posted On November 13, 2022
Montage © Facts4EU.Org
This report has been co-published with our affiliated organisation, Brexit Facts4EU.Org. We are most grateful for their original research into the raw data which backs what follows.
The UK exceeded the NATO minimum by $26.3bn in the same period
In an exclusive analysis of NATO data, CIBUK.Org and Facts4EU.Org reveal the extent of the EU’s defence failures
In Sunday’s CIBUK.Org defence special, we have analysed the latest official figures from NATO and can reveal the true extent of the EU’s unwillingness to pay for its own defence.
Since Putin’s illegal annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsular in early 2014, EU-NATO members have underspent the NATO minimum of 2% of GDP on defence by $581.5m (c. £490bn GBP).
Furthermore, 17 of the 21 EU countries that are also members of NATO are still estimated to be underspending the NATO minimum on defence in 2022 – the year of Putin’s illegal attempted invasion of the whole of Ukraine.
Summary
Underspend on defence according to NATO minimum 2% of GDP, 2014 – 2020
In billions of US dollars
- UK : +$26.3
- Germany : -$190.2
- Italy : -$107.0
- Spain : -$100.4
- Netherlands : -$46.8
- Belgium : -$37.8
- France : -$31.3
- EU NATO MEMBERS TOTAL UNDERSPEND : -$581.5
[Source : NATO figures, 2014-2020, released 2022.]
© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2022 – click to enlarge
Is it any wonder the EU are so keen to drag the UK into its Common Defence Policy?
On Friday we reported on the EU Commission’s delight that the UK Government of Rishi Sunak wishes to sign up to part of its “Permanent Structured Cooperation” (PESCO) common defence programme.
This is due to be ratified at a Council of Ministers meeting this coming week.
Given that the UK is the most powerful spender on its military in Europe, perhaps it is hardly surprising the EU wants the UK to be fully involved in its defence.
The UK is the biggest spender on defence in Europe
Summary
Germany’s economy is around 40% larger but spends less than the UK
Latest official NATO estimates for defence spending in 2022
[Source : NATO estimates for 2022.]
© Brexit Facts4EU.Org 2022 – click to enlarge
NATO recognises the UK’s contribution, even if the EU never says thank you
On Wednesday (09 Nov 2022) NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg visited No. 10 Downing Street for defence talks with the Prime Minister.
He thanked the United Kingdom for its key contributions to NATO and its strong support to Ukraine, including providing training to close to 30,000 Ukrainian soldiers over the last few years. This started in 2015 and the UK was the first country to step up. The UK continues to be the major provider of military training to President Zelenskyy’s forces.
Jens Stoltenberg went on to praise the UK for leading NATO’s multinational battlegroup in Estonia and for providing aircraft and ships to NATO patrols across the EU.
Please support our work
For the original version of this article, click here: https://facts4eu.org/news/2022_nov_brexit_power_2
