The underspending is short-term thinking. You see how well that worked out for the Ukraine. Some countries have no choice because they are tiny, like Georgia, a

The underspending is short-term thinking. You see how well that worked out for the Ukraine. Some countries have no choice because they are tiny, like Georgia, and they also suffer greatly. You might not be interested in violent combat, but violent combatants are interested in you. You certainly shouldn't rely on the USA for your protection. We had promised to protect the Ukraine. Even when you do get the promised help, as Poland did from the UK in WWII, it typically comes rather late. By the time help arrives you may be starving, homeless, raped, injured, orphaned, or widowed. Pushing that stuff out of your thoughts does not make the possibility go away.