Better Turkey, Greece ties 'could yield arms reductions'

[FarCenter]

AFP - Improving relations between Greece and Turkey could lead to arms reduction in both countries, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said in an interview published Saturday as he wrapped up an Athens visit.

"The development of relations between Greece and Turkey will boost the climate of trust and stability (and) ultimately the natural consequence could be arms reduction," Erdogan told Greek newspaper Ta Nea.

Calls to reduce arms in both countries were left unanswered on Friday when Erdogan met his Greek counterpart George Papandreou during his first official visit to the Greek capital since 2004.

On top marking an important improvement in relations, reciprocal commitments to reduce arms would be particularly welcome in Greece, which is among the biggest defence spenders in Europe and is struggling to control a debt crisis.

Greece currently spends around 2.8 percent of its national output on defence -- proportionately more than France or Britain -- or six billion euros this year, mostly due to its standoff with Turkey.

<SNIP>http://www.france24.com/en/20100515-better-turkey-greece-ties-could-yield-arms-reductions

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Since Greece and Turkey are both members of NATO, isn't the US obligated by treaty to go to the defense of whichever one is attacked by the other?

If so, why do either of them need to spend money on weapons?