Berlin urges Nato rethink after Macron jibe at ‘brain-dead’ alliance

Sophia Besch, a defence and security specialist at the Centre for European Reform think-tank, said the Maas plan appeared serious and reflected both the centrality of Nato in German defence policy and Berlin’s preference for “reform through review”.

But she said the proposals did not appear to address many of the wider divisions plaguing the alliance, including pressure on Berlin to honour a commitment made by all member states to spend the equivalent of 2 per cent of gross domestic product on defence by 2024.  “A commission will not solve the problems of credibility that Nato faces, problems of burden-sharing, a lack of shared threat perspectives, and illiberal members in its own ranks,” she said. “And the question is if Germany’s allies will be happy with any proposal from Berlin that is not the thing they want Germany to do most: spend 2 per cent on defence.”