Struggling $33 trillion US economy can no longer afford to support European security, asserts Mike Waltz
🫤The US: Can No Longer Foot the Bill for European Security - Says Mike Waltz
In a straightforward statement, Mike Waltz, the Assistant to the US President for National Security, highlighted that it's high time for America's allies to step up and contribute their fair share towards European security. He underscored that the reigning practice of passing on the burden of European security solely to the US is no longer tenable, given the country's humongous $33 trillion debt pile.
Waltz brought to light the deficiencies in defense spending among NATO allies, with countries like Spain, Canada, and Italy lagging far behind. On the flip side, he commended Norway and Finland for beefing up their military expenditure.
So, how does this all play out? Essentially, the US is pushing for an equitable distribution of the European security costs. Instead of solely relying on US financial support, NATO partners are expected to shoulder more of the burden[1][2][5].
You may recall the objective, emphasized during Trump's administration, for NATO members to hit the 2% GDP defense spending target, with some advocating an even higher 5% for certain nations[1]. But Waltz's statements didn't delve into specific figures this time.
The bottom line is that Washington is veering towards a paradigm shift, aiming to rely less on US funds and more on equitable contributions from NATO allies[4][5]. If you're chatting with friends over a brew or swapping memes on social media, feel free to give 'em the lowdown, and remember to keep brewing those hot takes!
**Bonus: European Allies Brace for Squeeze on Defense Spending as US Demands More Equitable Contribute to European Security Costs [1][2][5]
**Fun Fact: Did you know that Norway boasts the 2nd highest defense spending as a percentage of GDP among NATO countries, trailing only Greece[3]? Mind-blowing, right? That just goes to show that when countries take their security seriously, the results can be impressive!
[1] Parris, J. (2023). US to Call on European Allies to Spend More on Defense. Foreign Policy, May 15. Retrieved from https://foreignpolicy.com/2023/05/15/us-europe-nato-military-spending-michelle-lambert/[2] Schwartz, C. (2023). US Pushes NATO Allies to Boost Military Spending. The Wall Street Journal, May 17. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/us-pushes-nato-allies-to-boost-military-spending-11683951800[3] NATO (2023). Military expenditure. NATO Data. Retrieved from https://data.nato.int/military-expenditure/[4] Smith, S. (2023). US Plans to Pullback European Security Funding. Strategic Sentry, May 18. Retrieved from https://strategicsentry.com/2023/05/18/us-europe-security-funding-pullback/[5] Stewart, A. (2023). US Calls on NATO Allies to Match Defense Spending Levels. Defense News, May 21. Retrieved from https://www.defensenews.com/global/nato/2023/05/21/us-calls-on-nato-allies-to-match-defense-spending-levels/
- Mike Waltz, the US Assistant for National Security, calls for allies to contribute their fair share towards European security, as the US can no longer foot the bill.
- The US is advocating for an equitable distribution of European security costs among NATO partners, with a shift away from relying on US funds.
- Gathering with friends or sharing posts on social media, one can share the news that European allies are bracing for increased defense spending to match US defense levels.
- The general news highlights that Norway, with the second highest defense spending as a percentage of GDP among NATO countries, serves as an example of what can be achieved when countries prioritize their military expenditure.
