Garčević on Navigating NATO’s Future
In a recent episode of Al Jazeera Balkans’ foreign policy talk show, Context, Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies, joined military analyst Igor Tabak from Croatia and Nikola Lunić, the executive director of the Council for Strategic Policies from Serbia.
Together, they engaged in a thought-provoking discussion on the escalating trend of defense spending across Europe and the globe. The catalyst for their conversation stemmed from a recent contentious statement by President Trump, wherein he emphasized the importance of NATO members meeting the two percent GDP defense spending threshold to ensure US protection, even in the event of a Russian attack, labeling non-compliant nations as ‘delinquents’.
This enlightening exchange, which aired on February 19, 2024, shed light on the complexities surrounding international defense policies and alliances. Among the topics explored was the potential scenario of a US withdrawal from NATO in the event of Trump securing a second presidential term. Garčević acknowledged the considerable risk such a move would pose to NATO’s stability but highlighted legislative barriers that require Senate approval or an Act of Congress for such action, underscoring the intricate dynamics at play within US politics.
Ambassador Vesko Garčević dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years during his diplomatic career. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He was Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School. Learn more about Ambassador Garčević on his faculty profile.