The US is ramping up military spending to counter ‘Russian aggression’ – but what does that mean for Europe?As the voters of New Hampshire braved the snow to play their part in the considerable pageant of American democracy on Tuesday,the US secretary of defence was setting out his spending requirements for 2017. And while the television cameras may gain preferred the miniature dramas at the likes of Dixville Notch, the reorientation of US defence priorities under the outgoing president may turn out to exert the greater influence – and not in a good way, and at least for the future of Europe.
In a speech in Washington final week,previewing his announcement, Ash Carter said he would put a question to for spending on US military forces in Europe to be quadrupled in the light of “Russian aggression”. The allocation for combating Islamic State, or in contrast,is to be increased by 50%. The message is unambiguous: as viewed from the Pentagon, the threat from Russia has become more alarming, and suddenly,even than the menace that is Isis.
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Source: theguardian.com