NATO at Ankara: Poland as the “True Eastern Front” (From FOX News)

FOX News Anchor Jon Scott previewed President Donald J. Trump’s attendance at the NATO Summit in Ankara Turkey.  Defense spending will dominate, as will the Pentagon’s ongoing review of U.S. forces in Europe.  One bright spot is Poland, where U.S. troops and Polish and American Abrams tanks deter Russia.  Highlights below, and show clip here.

Rebecca Grant: Well, NATO should be spending more on defense.  NATO really blew it during the Iran conflict.  I think President Trump’s journey to Ankara, to the NATO summit, is really a second chance.  And he’s going to want to see clear plans, like Britain has laid out, to get to that 5% of total spending.  He’s also going to want to see good arms deals, with the U.S. companies closely involved.  And, I’d like to see an emphasis on Poland, a great ally, already spending 5%, and really the true eastern front.  Because the dilemma here is that a lot of European allies really see Russia as an existential threat, and we need NATO to stay together for that reason.

Jon Scott:  When you say NATO blew it, you’re talking about the fact that some NATO allies denied access to their bases, that kind of thing, when the attacks on Iran began?

Rebecca Grant:  Exactly.  There were a lot of issues over base access.  There was a lack of public support from a lot of the NATO governments.  Was some of this political theater?  It probably was.  But it came at a terrible moment, because remember, the U.S. is instrumental in providing missile defense to NATO, extended nuclear deterrence; and this is an operation, Operation Epic Fury, that’s for the good of the world.  NATO’s lack of clear support was a really low blow to the United States.  So President Trump is going to be there with some very tough love for NATO, and this is a great chance for them to show that they want to move forward.