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Istanbul, 20 November 2016 – Parliamentarians from NATO nations emphasised Saturday the need for unity and strength in the face of global uncertainty as Russia tests the Alliance’s resilience and economic factors weigh on trans-Atlantic relations.
“The need for a close trans-Atlantic alliance based on common values is as great as ever,” Lithuanian lawmaker Rasa Jukneviciene told the NATO Parliamentary Assembly’s Political Committee, during the organisation’s 62nd Annual Session in Istanbul, Turkey.
“We are faced with both external and internal challenges in an environment crowded with misinformation and disinformation. We must stand by our commitments and harmonise our divergent positions," she said.
The need for nations to step up defence spending to the agreed level of two percent of gross domestic product was also raised; a topic that was high on the agenda during campaigning for elections in the United States.
With growth slow in the world economy, Daniela Schwarzer, Director of the German Council on Foreign Relations research institute, said that whatever president-elect Donald Trump decides to do, one thing is clear: “it’s very likely the macroeconomic conditions in trans-Atlantic relations are going to change.”
Schwarzer told members of the NATO PA’s Economics and Security Committee that as far as Europe is concerned investment is being held up by uncertainty over the way that Britain’s departure from the European Union will play out.
“We may face a new phase of crisis management,” she said. Europe has struggled in recent years to keep Greece in the euro single currency zone and Italy’s economy is also shaky.
Further uncertainty is being created by the rise of the far-right in Europe, with elections due in the Netherlands, France and Germany next year. Schwarzer noted that data shows that when populists are active “the ability of governments to push through reforms decreases.”
Amid criticism that many Allies are paying only lip-service to meeting their defence spending pledges, she said that despite public opposition European heavyweight Germany is increasing its defence budget next year. “Expenditure is moving but from outside this may seem very slow,” she said.
US Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner, who said he expected the new administration to increase defence spending, said that a big part of the problem is the failure to address the real concerns of voters. “The populist movement can be stalled but it has to be stalled by addressing the fears,” he told the committee.
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