The success of this initiative will be crucial if the Allies, and particularly the European Allies, are to be able to carry out all of NATO's missions in the future. We need troops which are trained, equipped and ready for actual use, not just forces which exist on paper alone. These troops have to be mobile, sustainable and survivable and backed up by the best command and control and intelligence. The success of this project depends critically on resources. As I have visited NATO capitals over the past four weeks, I have urged the Allies to spend more, but above all to spend smarter, and on the right things.
Money is important but what it buys is even more important.
Many Allies this morning reported on how they are restructuring their armed forces, drawing on the lessons of Kosovo. Some are now spending more on defence. I hope that these countries will be an example to the others. What I found particularly encouraging during the discussion is that the NATO nations are now on the business of sharing critical assets, such as transport and logistics. They also are putting more emphasis on developing multinational formations, such as mobile military headquarters.