Merkel speaks out in Belgium

[Suff]

About security and the threats of Brexit.

She talks about not trusting transatlantic partners to help in times of danger. Hmmm, the first part of help is to help yourself, then others will step and provide the additional assistance (under NATO) that a single nation can’t provide.

NATO guidelines on GDP spent on defense are 2%. So here’s the short table.



Perhaps Merkel might want to get her own house in order before asking others to commit to a common defense.

Then she witters on about the “risk” of low UK corporation taxes taking business outside of the EU and how they should “harmonise corporation tax” within the EU when the UK leaves. The elephant in the room is that she’s not expounding on dropping German CT from 33% to 15%, she’s talking about “harmonising” Ireland, Latvia and Lithuania UP to at least French 30% standards. This is how the EU competes.

Honestly, they’re welcome to it.

[Workingman]

Harmonisation: a BIG fail for the EU. It should have been in place decades ago, and not only where corporation tax is concerned, but never mind, we are soon to be out so it's their problem.

Where NATO and defence is concerned Germany has no right to preach. From the end of WWII Germany relied on the US, UK, and to some extent France, for its international security. The money it saved on not having a worthwhile army, navy or air force was spent on building its manufacturing economy. If Brexit means that Germany has to build up its defences, then so be it.

[Suff]

That's my take too WM, Merkel has no right to preach at all. She has been spending on her industry and ignoring her obligations. So long as the UK did more than it's bit, France almost did it's bit and the US provided the umbrella, they were good.

I'd love to see how Germany performs with another 1% of GDP tied up in defense upkeep for no other reason than deterrent and not producing anything of note into the economy. I'm sure the German budget deficit would not look so good with another $36 Billion sucked out of it to meet NATO obligations.