Gates offers blunt criticism of NATO allies

The Defense Ministry insists the unusually strong criticism of European allies by outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates in Brussels June 10 was not directed at leaders in Prague, though the content of Gates' speech makes it seem otherwise.

Gates, who will step down at the end of June, questioned the future viability of the NATO, saying the alliance faces a "dim if not dismal future." Specifically, he targeted a trend among European countries that is seeing governments cut defense spending.

"The blunt reality is that there will be dwindling appetite and patience in the U.S. Congress, and in the American body politic writ large, to expend increasingly precious funds on behalf of nations that are apparently unwilling to devote the necessary resources or make the necessary changes to be serious and capable partners in their own defense," Gates said.

He criticized the unwillingness of NATO members to deploy combat troops in Afghanistan and the abstention of some alliance members from the ongoing war in Libya. Both of those criticisms, in theory, apply to the Czech Republic.  

"The Czech Republic doesn't belong to criticized groups of countries. Last year, we increased our presence in Afghanistan by almost one-third," said Jana Zechmeisterová, a Defense Ministry spokeswoman. "For 2011, that means up to 720 persons and in 2012 up to 640 persons."

Explaining the decision not to participate in the aerial assault on Libyan leader Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi's regime, she added, "We can only say that partner countries in the Alliance understand the reasons for our absence. Gates' critique was targeting other countries. There is also the question of possibilities and abilities."

But Gates' criticisms seemed to be directed precisely at the lack of capabilities among European militaries and the disorder this has led to during fighting the Libyan conflict. This, he said, is emblematic of long-term neglect and an overdependence on the United States, which accounts for about 75 percent of NATO spending.  

"While every alliance member voted for the Libya mission, less than half have participated at all, and fewer than a third have been willing to participate in the strike mission," he said.

"Frankly, many of those allies sitting on the sidelines do so not because they do not want to participate but simply because they can't."

"Despite more than 2 million troops in uniform, not counting the U.S. military, NATO has struggled, at times desperately, to sustain a deployment of 25,000 to 45,000 troops, not just in boots on the ground, but in crucial support assets such as helicopters, transport aircraft, maintenance, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, and much more," Gates added.

Gates' grim prognosis for the future of NATO drew support from the United Kingdom and a virtual no-comment from Germany, which declined to participate in the Libyan conflict.

As for the prospects of a world without NATO, "at this moment, there is no need to be afraid of such a scenario," Zechmeisterová said. "NATO is an essential security pillar of the Czech Republic, and it has a key role in defense of our territory as well as in the defense of other member countries."

- Filip Šenk contributed to this report.

Benjamin Cunningham can be reached at
bcunningham@praguepost.com