Munich, 3 February 2002 (RFE/RL) -- NATO Secretary-General Lord George Robertson said today that Europe is failing to do its part in NATO. He said that U.S. criticism of Europe's armed forces is just.
Robertson told the Munich Security Conference today that Europe remains militarily undersized. He said that Europe -- despite spending $140 billion a year on defense -- barely is able to maintain 50,000 troops in the Balkans. He said that NATO member Canada is equally negligent.
Both U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz and U.S. Senator John McCain told the conference yesterday that the United States increasingly is prepared to act unilaterally without the alliance.
The two-day conference ends today. Four hundred security experts, including 38 foreign and defence ministers, are attending.
Robertson told the Munich Security Conference today that Europe remains militarily undersized. He said that Europe -- despite spending $140 billion a year on defense -- barely is able to maintain 50,000 troops in the Balkans. He said that NATO member Canada is equally negligent.
Both U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz and U.S. Senator John McCain told the conference yesterday that the United States increasingly is prepared to act unilaterally without the alliance.
The two-day conference ends today. Four hundred security experts, including 38 foreign and defence ministers, are attending.