Statement from Veterans On Duty In Support of NATO
At Veterans On Duty, we believe that success on the battlefield cannot be achieved solely by American troops but by the combined might of our allied forces. As such, VOD advocates for sure strengthened ties with our treaty allies and partners, provided those friends and allies pay their fair share of the defense burden.
NATO remains one of the most successful and vital collective defense alliances the world has ever known, and it has provided the foundation for security in Europe for 75 years.
In the aftermath of World War II, NATO was formed in an effort to join like-minded nations to work towards peace through strength and avoid the millions of casualties that came from the great power wars of the 20th century.
NATO’s impact is especially felt when standing against the then Soviet Union. From the 1950s through the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, NATO nations stood in unity against the USSR’s efforts to expand communism, with 14 former communist countries joining NATO after the USSR fell.
We now see NATO’s continued importance on full-display in the face of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. NATO’s Article 5 commitment is essential to deterring the Kremlin from expanding this war on the European mainland, including against NATO allies like Poland and the Baltic States.
The Axis of Aggressors of Russia, China, Iran, and others makes the Western alliance more important than ever. Americans understand this, which is why two-thirds of Americans support the NATO alliance, according to recent polling. Americans remember that NATO Member States fulfilled their Article 5 commitment after America was attacked on 9/11 – the only time it has been invoked.
Under U.S. leadership, NATO Member States have increased their commitments to defense spending over the last 6 years. This trend must continue: It’s imperative that Member States meet their 2% commitment. The alliance should consider increasing this commitment to at least 3% annually, given the global threat environment.
The United States should continue to capitalize on these efforts by garnering increased funding commitments from the alliance and massive expansion of NATO’s defense industrial base.