US troops could pay price if NATO allies don't make major change, former VP's group warns

FIRST ON FOX: U.S. troops could beryllium forced into a Russian warfare if nan surrounding NATO countries neglect to summation their subject spending, according to erstwhile President Mike Pence's lobbying group, Advancing American Freedom (AAF).

In a memo sent to Congress connected Tuesday, AAF claims respective countries person not fulfilled their NATO-sanctioned 2% obligation, leaving nan heaviest load connected nan U.S. In 2014, only nan U.S., U.K., and Greece upheld its pact obligations during Russia's Crimea invasion, pinch non-compliant countries averaging 1.3% of GDP connected defense.

What's more, nether the Biden administration, immoderate countries for illustration Turkey, Norway and Italy person regressed, moving person to 2014 levels contempt wide spending growth, according to nan memo.

"By contrast, nan Trump-Pence Administration made improving allied-burden sharing a awesome privilege for overseas argumentation to important effect," nan memo reads. 

UKRAINE IMPLEMENTS PASSPORT RENEWAL RESTRICTION FOR MILITARY-AGE MEN OUTSIDE THE COUNTRY

Mike Pence's group claims US could beryllium forced into a Russian warfare if NATO friends proceed successful complacency.  (US Marines, US Air Force)

"This inclination is particularly alarming to observe successful countries bordering Russia and Ukraine," nan memo said, adding that "the countries closest to nan conflict ought to beryllium carrying nan lion’s stock of nan burden."

The 2% responsibility refers to nan committedness made by NATO allies to allocate astatine slightest 2% of their GDP to defense spending. 

While each NATO countries successful nan region raised defense spending aft Crimea's annexation, Norway and Romania reduced subject expenditures during nan Biden administration, contempt accrued Russian activity arsenic it launched a afloat standard penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022. AAF concluded nan U.S. "must find ways to promote and, if necessary, unit its allies" to uphold its extremity of NATO's burden-sharing commitment.

"Unless these trends are reversed, our deterrence strategy will fail, Russia will apt invade a NATO ally, and nan U.S. will beryllium required to nonstop troops overseas to grant our Article 5 communal defense pledge," nan memo reads.

KEY NATO ALLY SHOCKS WITH ITS 'SINGLE LARGEST' PLEDGE TO UKRAINE: 'THEY NEED OUR SUPPORT'

Former Vice President Mike Pence. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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March Short, president of nan AAF board, told Fox News Digital connected Tuesday that "NATO has been rightly criticized by galore conservatives for nan United States paying nan measure while our European friends skimp retired and neglect to meet basal spending requirements for rank contempt flush societal spending."

"Amid a caller Cold War pinch nan Chinese Communist Party, a resurgent Russia, and their partner successful crime successful nan Middle East, Iran, nan Biden Administration has neglected to fortify NATO by holding members accountable for nan 2% obligation," Short said. "Under nan Biden Administration, conscionable 1 NATO personnel has joined nan 2% club."

CHINA IS RAPIDLY EXPANDING ITS INFLUENCE IN OUR BACKYARD AND US MUST ACT NOW

U.S. President Joe Biden and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sojourn Saint Michael’s cathedral, amid Russia's onslaught connected Ukraine, successful Kyiv, Ukraine February 20, 2023. (REUTERS/Gleb Garanich)

On Monday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that captious U.S. weapons were starting to get successful Ukraine successful mini amounts, but that it needed to move faster. NATO leader Jens Stoltenberg besides told Ukrainians connected Monday that his alliance’s members had grounded to unrecorded up to their promises of subject assistance successful caller months, but said nan travel of arms and ammunition would now increase.

Last week, U.S. Congress besides passed a months-long debated $60 cardinal assistance package for Ukraine's continued warfare endeavors against Russia. The arguable assistance was tacked onto a $95 cardinal overseas assistance package that President Joe Biden signed soon after. 

Reuters contributed to this report.