Haviv Rettig Gur
Bottom line: Europe has to put up or shut up. Germany and France spend 1.5% and 2.1% of their GDP on defense. America spends 3.4%. That’s a problem when Russia alone, corrected for PPP, spends more than all Europe. There’s something shameful about spending a lower percentage of your economy on your own defense than your ally and protector spends on everyone’s collective defense. No wonder Trump called in January for NATO allies to go to 5%. Israel, for example, spent between 4.5% and 5.6% in the 10 years that preceded the current war. It benefits from American support, but it doesn’t base its entire defense strategy on the American taxpayer. Europe was protected so generously and for so long that it allowed itself to forget it was being protected. It’s time to grow up, Europe. It’s time to take responsibility.
Benjamin Tallis 🇺🇦
Assessing Hegseth’s comments beyond panic & hysteria. 1. On NATO- Fair & clear that this was coming. Not the end of NATO but end of European free riding. 2. On Ukraine - much worse news but Europeans CAN & MUST act for UA & for ourselves 🧵 https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2025/feb/12/us-no-longer-primarily-focused-on-europes-security-says-pete-hegseth-video