Gates warns Nato alliance at risk

Robert Gates used his final policy address as US Defence Secretary to warn European allies on the 10 June 2011 at the Security and Defense Agenda think tank in that they faced 'the very real possibility of collective military irrelevance' and that Washington was becoming financially unable and politically unwilling to bear the brunt of their defence.

He said the continuation of Washington’s postwar policy was particularly at risk if European members of the Nato alliance refused to take on more of their own security burden. In a situation he described as 'unacceptable', he said the current Libyan campaign had highlighted the continent’s shortcomings.

Europe had to spend more on defence, Mr Gates said bluntly.
(the full transcript of the speech and the reaction in media throughout the world can be found via the SDA related url hyperlink).

BBC News, 10.6.11: Europe's tight fist at Nato irks America http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13729751

Deutsche Welle, 10.6.11: Bound for retirement, Gates gives grim, uncensored view of NATO future http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15146001,00.html

SDA: Reflections on the status and future of the transatlantic alliance http://www.securitydefenceagenda.org/Contentnavigation/Activities/Activitiesoverview/tabid/1292/EventType/EventView/EventId/1070/EventDateID/1087/PageID/5090/Reflectionsonthestatusandfutureofthetransatlanticalliance.aspx

US: Department of Defense: News Article, 10.6.11: Gates: NATO Has Become Two-tiered Alliance http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=64268

EUObserver, 10.6.11: US defence chief: Europe may no longer be worth defending http://euobserver.com/9/32473

BBC News, 15.6.11: Nato chief urges Europeans to boost defence spending http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13785056

Libération, 15.6.11: Europe doesn't have the firepower (via PressEurop) http://www.presseurop.eu/en/content/article/714381-europe-doesnt-have-firepower

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