【环球财经】北约防长会尽显焦虑

Core Points - The NATO defense ministers meeting highlighted significant internal disagreements among member countries regarding defense spending and support for Ukraine, despite a push for a 5% defense spending target [1][2][4] - The proposed compromise by NATO Secretary General Stoltenberg includes a 5% target, with 3.5% for core defense and 1.5% for related infrastructure, aimed for completion by 2032 [2][3] - Some countries, like Estonia, advocate for achieving the 5% target within five years, while others, including the UK and Italy, prefer a timeline extending to 2035, and Spain opposes a fixed percentage [2][3] - NATO members had previously committed to raising defense spending to 2% of GDP by 2024, but several countries, including Spain and Italy, have not met this target, raising concerns about the feasibility of further increases [3] - The meeting focused heavily on military expansion plans, with Germany planning to increase its active military personnel by 60,000, reflecting internal contradictions within NATO regarding defense commitments [3] - The U.S. has sidelined the Ukraine issue during the meeting, indicating a potential strategic withdrawal from European commitments, which may exacerbate transatlantic tensions [4] - The absence of U.S. Defense Secretary Austin from the Ukraine Defense Liaison Organization meeting signals a weakening of U.S. ties with Europe and Ukraine, potentially undermining the NATO alliance [4]