@ISIDEWITHQuestionsForeign policyStarted 8yrs agoActive 11hrs ago

Should our country defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?

Should the U.S. defend other NATO countries that maintain low military defense budgets relative to their GDP?

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is an intergovernmental military alliance formed by 28 countries in 1949 after the Second World War. To join NATO each member country pledged to spend at least 2% of their GDP on military spending and defense and defend each other against threats from any non-member country. At the NATO Summit of 2014, each member agreed on a goal of spending 2% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on defense by 2024. Member nations further agreed to devote at least 20% of defense spending on major new equipment and associated Research and Development. As of 2020,…  

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Answer Overview

Response rates from 64.4k Democrats voters.

76%
Yes
24%
No
61%
Yes
20%
No
15%
Yes, and refusing to defend other NATO countries sets a dangerous precedent for the balance of global power
3%
No, we should not defend any NATO country that spends less than 2% of their GDP on military defense
0%
No, and we should withdraw from NATO

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Other Popular Answers

Unique answers from Democrats voters whose views went beyond the provided options.

 @8JCJLWV from Texas  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes, but should strongly encourage such nations to increase their support for NATO

 @8XHGB7H from Texas  answered…3yrs3Y

Yes but demand they pay their fair share

 @547W2M2from North Carolina  answered…4yrs4Y

"Defending" each other is how wars are started. Hell no.

 @5495QKWfrom Kentucky  answered…4yrs4Y

No, but add a clause that ensures a "tax" or reparation is made to the US from those countries that need defending (and under 2%) should they need the US military for defense or aid.

 @548HSP8from Nebraska  answered…4yrs4Y

We should not be expected to fund countries who prosper but do not fund their own defense -- why should we bear the cost when they can afford to do so?

 @548YD53from Illinois  answered…4yrs4Y

No country deserves a free ride. Each country has a reasonable responsibility to defend and protect its citizens. But failure of a government to reasonably defend and protect its citizens doesn't absolve other countries from a moral responsibility to protect and preserve life to the best of their ability.

 @5485KZ2from Minnesota  answered…4yrs4Y

Yes, upon the condition that a lien (of sorts...) is placed on that country, resulting in a gained equitable interest to the People of the U.S. Maybe even going to so far as being a fund of mutual benefit, to the US and the country being protected. This could be practical if that country is better off spending their own budget on something which would bring more benefit to that country, thereby increasing a potential return to the US. Especially since the US has so much invested in its military already.

 @9D3RPBQfrom Guam  answered…1yr1Y

We Must abolish NATO

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