Informative article, thank you. Can you write in the future about NATO and defense procurement, e. g. American and European weapons systems and how this impacts the power structure of NATO? I have read a bit about this and feel that it is vital that Europe and NATO move away from reliance on U.S. provided sytems given the unreliability of the U.S. as an ally.
I see an urgent need for Europe to develop their own security and to support Ukraine now. I take a pessimistic view of your impressions.
The fact that many Europeans are intent on waiting-out Trump and resuming the old dependence is grim. NATO is not moving in a positive direction, they are stuck in the past. I know they talk of a slowly evolving greater self-sufficiency. It will never happen as long as the U.S. crutch is on the menu of options.
THe perception that the U.S. is more NATO-friendly when Europe announces future defense spending hikes is a mirage. The U.S. is strictly mercantile now. NATO defense obligations are meaningless. Trump is at economic war with the EU; he sees the EU as a competitor in all spheres. Trump is an arms merchant for NATO, nothing more. THe strategy is to increase European dependence on U.S. arms. Every aspect of the recent EU-U.S. trade framework discourages European arms development.
NATO would be in a healthier state if the U.S. formally announced plans to withdraw from NATO. That's not the only way forward, but I'll take the chemotherapy before what we see now.
I agree. But here is the dilemma. Europe’s dependence on the US is significant and the result of 75 years of practice. It’s not undone easily. Helping Europe to wean itself of this dependence is critical. But the direction and need is clear
Thank you, Ivo. Very interesting! Would you count Germany in the basket of countries still hoping for a return to normal in the US after the next election?
Informative article, thank you. Can you write in the future about NATO and defense procurement, e. g. American and European weapons systems and how this impacts the power structure of NATO? I have read a bit about this and feel that it is vital that Europe and NATO move away from reliance on U.S. provided sytems given the unreliability of the U.S. as an ally.
I see an urgent need for Europe to develop their own security and to support Ukraine now. I take a pessimistic view of your impressions.
The fact that many Europeans are intent on waiting-out Trump and resuming the old dependence is grim. NATO is not moving in a positive direction, they are stuck in the past. I know they talk of a slowly evolving greater self-sufficiency. It will never happen as long as the U.S. crutch is on the menu of options.
THe perception that the U.S. is more NATO-friendly when Europe announces future defense spending hikes is a mirage. The U.S. is strictly mercantile now. NATO defense obligations are meaningless. Trump is at economic war with the EU; he sees the EU as a competitor in all spheres. Trump is an arms merchant for NATO, nothing more. THe strategy is to increase European dependence on U.S. arms. Every aspect of the recent EU-U.S. trade framework discourages European arms development.
NATO would be in a healthier state if the U.S. formally announced plans to withdraw from NATO. That's not the only way forward, but I'll take the chemotherapy before what we see now.
I agree. But here is the dilemma. Europe’s dependence on the US is significant and the result of 75 years of practice. It’s not undone easily. Helping Europe to wean itself of this dependence is critical. But the direction and need is clear
I don't see a lot of weaning.
I suppose the hope is Poland-Germany-Ukraine-Nordics alliance. Such a Coalition of the Serious is quite a potent core.
Thank you, Ivo. Very interesting! Would you count Germany in the basket of countries still hoping for a return to normal in the US after the next election?