NATO remains a critical alliance for U.S. national interests and for the defense of democratic sovereignty. Russia's brutal war on Ukraine proves that European defense alliances still matter. That said, NATO suffers a sustaining malady. Even as the United States must urgently prioritize its military resources in preparation for a conflict with China, most NATO members continue to rely on the U.S. to do the heavy lifting in Europe's defense.
That infographic tells the tale. It shows that the U.S. is the only nation providing electronic warfare, refueling, dedicated air-to-ground, and fifth-generation aircraft. It shows the U.S. is also deploying Navy and Air Force aircraft.
There are some exceptions. Britain, Greece, Poland, and the Baltic States all spend at least 2% of GDP on defense. Indeed, NATO figures show that Greece spent 3.54% of its GDP on defense in 2022, more even than the U.S. . These nations also deploy their military forces in a forward posture that supports NATO deterrence. Unfortunately, many others do not.
This underlines the central strategic problem: America cannot keep doing most of everything, everywhere.