The NATO Problem: Ukraine Edition

The alliance provides an advanced and integrated command structure that, for example, was able to put together an attack plan a mere week before it invaded Libya in 2011.

Vershbow referenced his own frustrations that only four signatory countries – Estonia, Greece, the U.K. and the U.S. – live up to their commitments of spending at least 2 percent of their gross domestic products on defense. He believes, if anything, the ongoing crisis in Ukraine should provide the “wake-up call” all NATO members need to up their antes, now more than ever.

“Some people joke some countries may just hit the snooze button rather than increase defense spending,” Vershbow said. The point will likely take center stage at this year’s NATO summit in September.

He added, “This is the challenge even going beyond this crisis: There’s a huge false narrative being put out by the Russians, which affects NATO very much. Putin has tried to blame NATO expansion for what happened in Ukraine and Crimea, to use NATO expansion to justify the annexation of Crimea, which is absolutely without foundation.”

“It’s hard to counter disinformation when the disseminator just makes stuff up all the time.”

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