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| Mattis & Fallon say NATO members must raise their game, accuse Russia of 'interfering' | Mattis & Fallon say NATO members must raise their game, accuse Russia of 'interfering' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Other NATO countries must raise their game and pull their weight as the US-dominated alliance seeks to reform and stay relevant, said UK Defence Secretary Michael Fallon and his US counterpart James Mattis. | |
| Following his meeting on NATO and the post-Brexit ‘special relationship’ with Mattis, Fallon told reporters those who failed to meet the symbolic two percent of GDP defense spending commitment should at least agree to annual real terms increases. | Following his meeting on NATO and the post-Brexit ‘special relationship’ with Mattis, Fallon told reporters those who failed to meet the symbolic two percent of GDP defense spending commitment should at least agree to annual real terms increases. |
| “We also agreed that NATO must modernize and streamline its military structures to ensure faster decision making.” | “We also agreed that NATO must modernize and streamline its military structures to ensure faster decision making.” |
| “Britain’s global leadership role is as needed today as at any time in history,” Mattis told the press. | “Britain’s global leadership role is as needed today as at any time in history,” Mattis told the press. |
| He also accused Iran of being a primary exporter of terrorism and warned that North Korea poses a growing global threat. | He also accused Iran of being a primary exporter of terrorism and warned that North Korea poses a growing global threat. |
| Both men also made multiple reference to Russian “aggression” and Mattis mentioned what he called Russian “messing about” in “other people’s elections” – a reference to US claims that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential race. | Both men also made multiple reference to Russian “aggression” and Mattis mentioned what he called Russian “messing about” in “other people’s elections” – a reference to US claims that Russia interfered in the 2016 US presidential race. |
| Ahead of their meeting Fallon spoke about the topics to be discussed. | Ahead of their meeting Fallon spoke about the topics to be discussed. |
| “Our defense relationship with the US is unprecedented in its depth and scope. As we leave the EU, our bilateral relationships matter more than ever, so we’ll be enhancing our cooperation and investing more in our joint F-35 fast jet program,” Fallon said in a statement. | “Our defense relationship with the US is unprecedented in its depth and scope. As we leave the EU, our bilateral relationships matter more than ever, so we’ll be enhancing our cooperation and investing more in our joint F-35 fast jet program,” Fallon said in a statement. |
| The two defense chiefs also discussed how they could update NATO for the modern world. | The two defense chiefs also discussed how they could update NATO for the modern world. |
| “Together, we will also agree further steps to modernize NATO and ensure greater burden sharing,” Fallon said. | “Together, we will also agree further steps to modernize NATO and ensure greater burden sharing,” Fallon said. |
| “That means more European members committing to annual increases in their defense spending in order to counter an aggressive Russia and tackle terrorism and cyber threats." | “That means more European members committing to annual increases in their defense spending in order to counter an aggressive Russia and tackle terrorism and cyber threats." |
| Stop the War Coalition convenor Lindsey German told RT that calls for higher defense spending are a “very serious threat.” | Stop the War Coalition convenor Lindsey German told RT that calls for higher defense spending are a “very serious threat.” |
| “Trump has been saying this from the beginning, he has been critical over various points of NATO but if you listen carefully to what he says he wants every state to spend 2 percent of their GDP on military spending.” | “Trump has been saying this from the beginning, he has been critical over various points of NATO but if you listen carefully to what he says he wants every state to spend 2 percent of their GDP on military spending.” |
| German said the situation reminds her of the great power rivalries of the 19th century when major states started to shore up their military spending, a situation she described as very dangerous. | German said the situation reminds her of the great power rivalries of the 19th century when major states started to shore up their military spending, a situation she described as very dangerous. |
| Asked about recent UK deployments to Estonia, German said that the role of Brexit cannot be ignored. | Asked about recent UK deployments to Estonia, German said that the role of Brexit cannot be ignored. |
| She said the UK had framed invoking Article 50 – the EU exit clause – around it’s supposed security and military capabilities. | She said the UK had framed invoking Article 50 – the EU exit clause – around it’s supposed security and military capabilities. |
| “I think Britain is really trying to stress its military role and it is the biggest military power in the EU … in order to maintain its role.” | “I think Britain is really trying to stress its military role and it is the biggest military power in the EU … in order to maintain its role.” |
| The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also weighed in by talking down the EU’s financial contribution to NATO, an issue which the US and UK have repeatedly returned to. | The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also weighed in by talking down the EU’s financial contribution to NATO, an issue which the US and UK have repeatedly returned to. |
| "When Britain leaves the EU, around 80 percent of NATO defense spending will be non-EU, and three out of the four countries leading NATO’s s enhanced forward presence in Eastern Europe [a force deployed to deter Russia] will be non-EU members,” the department said in a statement. | "When Britain leaves the EU, around 80 percent of NATO defense spending will be non-EU, and three out of the four countries leading NATO’s s enhanced forward presence in Eastern Europe [a force deployed to deter Russia] will be non-EU members,” the department said in a statement. |
| President Trump has repeatedly stated his view that NATO is obsolete unless serious reforms are made to its role and purpose. | President Trump has repeatedly stated his view that NATO is obsolete unless serious reforms are made to its role and purpose. |