Harvard University Gazette: 'Does Europe still need NATO?' - by Corydon Ireland

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'Does Europe still need NATO?' - by Corydon Ireland

Today, about 50,000 NATO troops are deployed on seven missions. But only seven of the 26 NATO allies spend more than 2 percent of their gross national product on their militaries.Though NATO is headquartered just one kilometer from the EU's main office in Brussels, and despite the fact that the two groups share 21 member countries, they have difficulty communicating. "It's easier to talk to Saudi Arabia than it is to talk to the EU," said Shea, speaking for NATO. "There's no pragmatic division of labor."

The European Union now has a defense component, though has not yet developed a ready force.