Center for American Progress

To Strengthen NATO, Congress Must Help End Its Reliance On Russian Equipment
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To Strengthen NATO, Congress Must Help End Its Reliance On Russian Equipment

Author Max Bergmann explains why it is time for Congress to help replace NATO members' aging Soviet-made military equipment.

It is time for NATO members to finally replace their aging fleets of Soviet-Russian military equipment, and Congress can help do just that.

After World War II, as the Soviet Union turned from ally to adversary, the United States helped rebuild the broken militaries of western Europe by providing more than $50 billion (in today’s dollars) in military aid to bolster the members of the new NATO alliance. There was no similar American investment after the fall of communism in NATO’s new eastern members. Doing so seemed unnecessary. After all, the United States was trying to integrate Russia into Europe, not deter it.

The above excerpt was originally published in Defense One. Click here to view the full article.

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Authors

Max Bergmann

Former Senior Fellow