The NATO Summit in Wales this week was to have marked the end of combat in Afghanistan and preparation for a quieter period focused on partnerships and training, but Russian aggression has moved the focus to defense spending and readiness, a top alliance official said yesterday. “Indeed, over the past five years, total defense spending by NATO nations has fallen by 20 percent,” said NATO Deputy secretary General Alexander Vershbow at the NATO Parliamentary Assembly in London. “However, over this…
