To keep Russia out and America in, NATO must spend more

The first head of NATO, Hastings “Pug” Ismay, reputedly said the alliance’s purpose was to “keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in and the Germans down”. Today, no one wants to keep the Germans down. But as NATO’s 32 members gather in The Hague on June 24th, most agree that the still-essential task of keeping the Russians out requires keeping the Americans in. And that is no longer straightforward.