By Martin Banks - 27th January 2009
Let’s be creative on how to pool resources. We have to find a more innovative approach on how to fund operations
Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer on the future of defence spending
Nato secretary general Jaap de Hoop Scheffer has called on European governments for a “real show of political will” on defence spending.
Speaking on Monday, less than a week after the inauguration of Barack Obama as American president, he called on EU member states to throw their weight behind the new administration.
De Hoop Scheffer spoke about the future of Nato and European governments’ unwillingness to devote more resources to defence before an audience of 170 policymakers, industry experts, think-tankers and journalists.
"If we want more from the Americans on issues like Guantanamo Bay and Kyoto, we have to deliver more ourselves," he said.
"I do not expect defence budgets to go up. I’d be happy, in fact, if they don’t slide further. So let’s do more with the buck we have.
"Let’s be creative on how to pool resources. We have to find a more innovative approach on how to fund operations."
Looking ahead to events marking Nato’s 60th anniversary at the Strasbourg-Kehl summit in April, De Hoop Scheffer highlighted piracy, cyber terrorism, energy security and instability in south Asia as priorities for the transatlantic alliance.
He reminded the audience that while progress in Afghanistan was visible, with"relative peace" in certain areas, a regional approach of engaging Pakistan, Iran, India and China to tackle extremism was critical to enduring peace and stability in Afghanistan.
De Hoop Scheffer added, however, that he doesn’t anticipate further Nato enlargement "around the corner".
The event was organised by the Security and Defence Agenda, a Brussels-based think-tank.
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