Walter Russell Mead has it right in “Maybe Europe Needs Trump” (Global View, Nov. 19). Past U.S. presidents, perhaps not satisfied with doing what is best for America, put on the “Leader (and Check Writer) of the Free World” crown. President Biden received Germany’s highest honor a month ago because he has done such a fine job protecting German domestic spending.
As a former staff officer at NATO headquarters, I cheered when President Trump, in June 2020, threatened to cut U.S. troop presence in Germany by a third unless Berlin immediately began making good on its promises to increase defense spending. Mr. Trump was uniformly harangued for it by the press and the defense establishment. Unfortunately, he backed away.
Today, nearly three years after Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would sharply increase spending, the German military remains historically weak. Mr. Trump won’t be getting any awards from the Germans.
The European Union has about 10 times the GDP, and three times the population, of Russia. The Russian economy and military will be shattered for a decade post-Ukraine, giving the Europeans time to build a robust defense structure. But they won’t do so if they believe we will continue to do it for them. The Europeans will never step up until we step away.
Cmdr. John Fortugno, USN (Ret.)
Olympia, Wash.
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Appeared in the November 25, 2024, print edition as ‘Let Europeans Stand on Their Own Two Feet’.
COMMENTS:
The Europeans built up their welfare state while we handled defense. Those days are gone. America is not going to help people that try to arrest the Prime Minister of Israel for defending his people. Even Trudeau said he would arrest Netanyahu. We are the world’s last hope.
As long as they stay on the US tit why would they. They failed multiple times as we have thinking they’ll change. Kick out NATO countries that won’t pony up.
The Europeans have historically used inbreeding to maintain power amongst their crowned heads. They no longer marry amongst themselves, instead they socialize and party, toasting each other. Living in such a bubble is it any wonder they imagine themselves omniscient this and omni that?
I often like to look at the Wiki entries for armed forces hardware fielded by our supposed NATO allies and opponents. With a little research we find that, not only do economic powers like Germany or the UK have very small military equipment inventories, but not much of it works.
This idea that the world isn’t completely interconnected is delusional.
“For the Europeans there really is a peace dividend, because we provide the peace. They can afford social democracy without the capacity to defend themselves because they can always depend on the United States.
So why not us as well? Because what for Europe is decadence–decline, in both comfort and relative safety–is for us mere denial. Europe can eat, drink and be merry for America protects her. But for America it’s different. If we choose the life of ease, who stands guard for us?”
― Charles Krauthammer, Things That Matter: Three Decades of Passions, Pastimes and Politics
IN 2014 Germany promised to give 2% of the GDP to the building up of their own military in support of NATO; They have yet to meet their target.
Right now they hover at 1.5% after years at 1.2%;
They could even count hardening their own off ramps to support NATO quick response Armor;
They haven’t even done that!
They are over $300billion in arrears. And that’s just 1 country. With the notable exception of Poland and England, Europeans care very little for their own defense.
Quit being cheap slackers Germany. You too Canada; Pay your fair share.
Asking Germany to pay up after the C_A destroyed their source of cheap natgas… lovely. I’m sure they’ll get right on it.