European countries anti war attitude, a threat to world security: Gates

London, Feb 24 (ANI): US Defence Secretary Robert Gates has said that European countries' current anti war attitude is threatening world security.

Addressing a forum on rewriting the basic mission plan for the Nato alliance, Gates called for far-reaching reforms.

The early successes of Nato in averting post-Second World War eruptions of European conflict have led to a new set of concerns, he said.

"The demilitarisation of Europe-where large swathes of the general public and political class are averse to military force and the risks that go with it-has gone from a blessing in the 20th century to an impediment to achieving real security and lasting peace in the 21st," the Daily Express quoted him, as saying.

Gates said the danger was that potential future adversaries might view Nato as a paper tiger.

"Not only can real or perceived weakness be a temptation to miscalculation and aggression, but, on a more basic level, the resulting funding and capability shortfalls make it difficult to operate and fight together to confront shared threats," Gates said.

Gates has repeatedly urged European members of Nato to boost their defence budgets and to find ways to modernise their forces, while also praising their commitment to fighting alongside the United States in Afghanistan. (ANI)