redbloodedamerica:

U.S. SHOULDERS HEAVY BURDEN IN NATO

by Kevin Ryan

There are 28 countries in NATO. Combined, the non-U.S. countries have roughly the same GDP as the U.S. Yet they only spend about 1/3rd of total defense spending in the alliance, forcing the U.S. to bear 2/3rds of the burden. The money they save by having America to protect them goes toward funding Europe’s massive social programs.

SOURCES: https://www.sipri.org/databases/milex
http://www.imf.org/external/ns/cs.aspx?id=28
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_67655.htm
http://www.heritage.org/defense/report/global-us-troop-deployment-1950-2003