Greece is only spending money because it doesnt want to be invaded by, fellow NATO ally, Turkey. If Turkey was a normal country, Greece spending would have been at 1.5-2%.
Greece doesnt care about Russia, if Russia disappeared tomorrow, nothing would change about the Greek defense spending.
Well, the article I read about the artillery donation mentioned that they were reopening a factory for the production of more shells with the intent to increase their reserves.
Are the budgets calculated the same way in all countries? Or at least comparable?
I've heard that e.g. in Germany pensions for soldiers are not calculated as defence spending, because it's just a regular pension, the same civilians also get. However in the US the department of defense is directly responsible for that so it counts as defense spending. However I have no idea if that is true or if that is already considered in the 2% figure.
Yes, we need to grow more independent of the U.S. (while maintaining good relations with it). Investing in a flourishing European arms industry will not just secure our independence and strengthen our common defense. It will also be an investment that pays off economically via jobs created here, corporate taxes paid here, etc.
I wish we could invest into building a more peaceful and just world instead. But that is not what our current situation calls for. Right now we need to safeguard the peace and justice we have already. We've come a long way and mustn't allow an aggressive and ruthless neighbor to threaten what we've achieved up to this point.
The USA has rules around military spending, namely that as much money as possible needs to be spent within the country, they'd expect the same from their allies.
Surely Luxembourg can hire an extra guy to meet the 2% requirement.
What's the point Jorge can see the whole country from his tower
Sometimes Jorge needs a nap.
Jorge is in the military, Jorge gets modafinil
Other way round. They take in so much tax haven income for their size they have a huge GDP/capita.
It's 3x the size of the UK.
Luxembourg is essentially spending the same amount per person as the UK on 0.7% vs. 2.1%
If they matched up they'd be spending triple the amount per person.
It would be even starker if it was by land area. Or border length.
I'd fix that graph by forcing companies to report revenue where it's generated, not in Luxembourg to avoid tax and regulation.
Greece is only spending money because it doesnt want to be invaded by, fellow NATO ally, Turkey. If Turkey was a normal country, Greece spending would have been at 1.5-2%.
Greece doesnt care about Russia, if Russia disappeared tomorrow, nothing would change about the Greek defense spending.
Credible level, maximum.
Well, the article I read about the artillery donation mentioned that they were reopening a factory for the production of more shells with the intent to increase their reserves.
Honestly, as long as that stock is getting replaced donating anything to Ukraine is pretty cost effective spending for NATO defence.
It's directly reducing Russia's operational capacity.
Count it.
It's a bit misleading to use 2023 GDP with 2015 PPP, not to mention this doesn't include Ukrainian aid
I mean yes, let's boost our defence spending, but also Luxembourg using 2% is just silly considering their circumstances
Luxumberg can pony up and meet their goals by buying two more rifles or they can get out!
Luxembourg alone vaporizes corporate taxes from the EU amounting to half the EU's GDP. Yearly.
According to the Panama Papers.
We still remember that, right?
so you're saying we can have EU army and Luxemburg can fund it?
where is sweden at? i guess they do meet the quota
Since Sweden joined literally yesterday.
Are the budgets calculated the same way in all countries? Or at least comparable?
I've heard that e.g. in Germany pensions for soldiers are not calculated as defence spending, because it's just a regular pension, the same civilians also get. However in the US the department of defense is directly responsible for that so it counts as defense spending. However I have no idea if that is true or if that is already considered in the 2% figure.
I really don't see a boost in Luxembourg's defence budget as all that necessary.
It's the principle.
It could be used to other warfighting capabilities by a small nation eg. cyber warfare, instead of tanks, artillery and other traditional systems.
Edit: Also one might hope that those kind of technical skills might also be of use in the civilian sector, in dual-use sense.
It's all about the money
It's all about the dumdum dumdedee dum
Now do by total currancy.
And now by area the military has to keep control of.
Nice
No.
We can't let the Americans carry us
We're just going to hand 0.6 percent of our GDP over to Raytheon or Lockheed Martin. No thanks.
Exactly, there's many other defense contractors who also deserve a chance.
You're right, fuck them. Let's turn our attention to Leonardo S.p.A.
I'd be more inclined to give it all to RIM and tell them to bring back physical keyboards on smartphones.
Why do you think it is that a huge chunk of defense contractors are in the USA?
That's where the trillion dollar purse is.
Correct, it's because the US out spends all of Europe on defense.
Yes, we need to grow more independent of the U.S. (while maintaining good relations with it). Investing in a flourishing European arms industry will not just secure our independence and strengthen our common defense. It will also be an investment that pays off economically via jobs created here, corporate taxes paid here, etc. I wish we could invest into building a more peaceful and just world instead. But that is not what our current situation calls for. Right now we need to safeguard the peace and justice we have already. We've come a long way and mustn't allow an aggressive and ruthless neighbor to threaten what we've achieved up to this point.
The USA has rules around military spending, namely that as much money as possible needs to be spent within the country, they'd expect the same from their allies.
Then get out of nato
No.