Europe is facing historically large investments in defense. NATO countries have agreed to spend 5 percent of GDP annually – of which 3.5 percent on classic defense spending and 1.5 percent on other security purposes. A group of former military personnel, primarily British and Dutch, and European experts are now proposing that part of the 1.5 percent be earmarked for green energy such as wind turbines and solar cells. According to the proposal, which was sent in an open letter to the European leaders of NATO countries, investments in green energy will both make the countries less dependent on fossil fuels from Russia and at the same time increase their resilience in times of crisis. This is written by Jyllands-Posten.
- If you eliminate the need for fossil fuels and get your energy from a sustainable source, you also improve your operational flexibility. So let's not think in silos. Let's start thinking about which cross-cutting areas we can invest in that benefit everything we have to do when we are going to build a robust society and a competitive economy, says Ben Bekkering, former vice admiral in the Dutch navy.
The proposal comes as US President Donald Trump reiterates his opposition to wind energy and pressures Europe to buy more oil and gas from the US. Yet Bekkering and his co-signatories believe that green energy should be considered a strategic defense investment that can protect society, the economy and the climate.
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