U.S. Senator Bob Corker, a member of the Foreign Relations Committee, today said he agrees with Defense Secretary Robert Gates' remarks in Brussels that the failure of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) allies to fully live up to their financial and military obligations in NATO-led missions risks the "collective military irrelevance" of the alliance.
"I commend Secretary Gates for stating the view shared by many Americans: our NATO allies are not carrying their weight, forcing American service members and taxpayers to bear nearly all of the burden in NATO-led missions. This current arrangement where only five of the 28 nations pay their full commitment to support the alliance cannot continue," Corker said.