When Europe invests in its own defense, it also directly supports American jobs, strengthens our industrial base, and reinforces NATO’s collective security.
Well said — real strength comes when every ally carries its weight, not just in defense budgets but also in trust and solidarity. Japan shows this spirit outside NATO: a loyal partner that invests in America and takes pride in its cultural traditions and modern creativity. Respecting that cultural sovereignty makes alliances more durable, because true partnership depends on shared values as much as shared firepower.
I understand where you’re coming from — big institutions can feel distant and hard to trust. But in the end, what makes any alliance worth having is not just treaties or budgets, but real respect and trust between nations. Japan shows this well: it’s a partner that doesn’t rely on aid but takes pride in its cultural traditions and modern creativity. Respecting that sovereignty is what makes a partnership strong, whatever the framework.
In Trump’s first term he expanded NATO and started sending lethal aid to Ukraine after Obama refused for fear of escalating the conflict…did you vote for Jill Stein?? 😂
Funny how the talk of "equal Allies" always seems to circle back to how much more Europe should spend, mostly on American gear, from American firms, supporting American jobs. That’s not a partnership of equals, that’s a business model dressed up in patriotism.
From a realpolitik lens, it makes sense, of course. The U.S. isn't doing this out of charity or some sacred belief in "shared defense." It’s protecting its industrial base, locking in arms markets, and maintaining strategic leverage over Europe.
That’s classic hegemon behavior: keep Allies just capable enough to defend themselves, but dependent enough to keep the U.S. at the center.
You make an interesting point — hegemony isn’t only about defense spending or industrial leverage, it can also show up in culture. Many Japanese people, for instance, have voiced concern when Western powers try to impose their own cultural standards on Japan. What makes Japan such a strong partner is that it stands on its own traditions and modern creativity, not dependency. Partnerships last when they’re grounded in respect for sovereignty and trust, not just balance sheets.
So the Trump Admin is now openly pressuring Europe to fund the expansion of the U.S. military-industrial complex -- this is exactly the kind of influence that Eisenhower warned us that we needed to safeguard our democracy against over 70 years ago. It's just another step along the short path toward overt authoritarian rule in the U.S. where the government serves the interests of a wealthy few while feeding bullshit to the masses. The military should be subject to the Constitution, not shareholders in new military tech. One of the scariest things I read so far this year was when Trump/Hegseth purged the JAG officers... now there's this.
NATO is an agreement by Europe to die degrading an enemy before they get to America…it’s one of the best deals for America in our history! And Obama got the defense spending down as low as possible without making Republicans freak out like they under Clinton. So unless you want another Bush/Cheney who invade another country and explode defense spending you should just be satisfied with the relatively low spending Obama got us to and Trump and Biden have maintained.
I actually supported your position up until February 2022 when Putin invaded Ukraine…at that point he made NATO relevant again. And a big part of NATO being successful going forward is the EU importing American LNG and end imports of Russian natural gas. Biden played everything perfectly and made America energy dominant.
If Biden played everything perfectly, then why was I paying more than $5 for a gallon of gas during his rule? Why was the Nordstream pipeline blown up?
We are the biggest energy producing country on the planet—those high energy prices for a short period were great for America. So we had record fracking bankruptcies in 2020 and by October 2022 the fracking industry was profitable and creating jobs and making America stronger. Natural gas is more important than oil now and natural gas prices started rising in November 2024 and so if you live in Texas you might be in for a utility bill shock!
“. . . those high energy prices for a short period were great for America.”
Those high prices pushed up the prices of everything else, making it next to impossible for working class Americans to afford gas, food, or anything else. We don’t all own stock in oil companies, you know.
I’m so glad to hear from you how great they were, though. You must hang out with Paul Krugman.
Thanks for taking this post, Mr. Ambassador! President Trump has assembled a stellar team of the best and brightest patriots. You service and sacrifice are appreciated, more than you know.
I am glad you are able to take a victory lap! Europe has been visibly coasting defense-wise since the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.
But don’t you kinda suspect the 10 year 5% GDP implementation timeframe is actually a loophole that will let the not-on-the-border, socialist, self-satisfied recalcitrants like Germany and Denmark wait until the next couple of US Executives’ Administrations before spending much more than a Euro on meeting that 5% target?
I absolutely agree with the Ambassador Matthew G. Whitaker.
Europe's renewed commitment to defense spending is an important development for
Transatlantic strength.
It is a great breakthrough, after years of underinvestment, that European NATO allies have pledged to significantly increase their defense budgets, with the aim of 5% of GDP by 2035.
This high reaching goal, championed by the U.S, aims to ensure that NATO remains a strong deterrent and resilient force in an evolving geopolitical landscape.
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Outstanding update and it aligns with the America First initiative.
At end of day we ALL have skin in the game and need to pull our respective weight.
🇺🇸🇺🇸
Well said — real strength comes when every ally carries its weight, not just in defense budgets but also in trust and solidarity. Japan shows this spirit outside NATO: a loyal partner that invests in America and takes pride in its cultural traditions and modern creativity. Respecting that cultural sovereignty makes alliances more durable, because true partnership depends on shared values as much as shared firepower.
We, the US, need out of nato, NOW!.
I understand where you’re coming from — big institutions can feel distant and hard to trust. But in the end, what makes any alliance worth having is not just treaties or budgets, but real respect and trust between nations. Japan shows this well: it’s a partner that doesn’t rely on aid but takes pride in its cultural traditions and modern creativity. Respecting that sovereignty is what makes a partnership strong, whatever the framework.
In Trump’s first term he expanded NATO and started sending lethal aid to Ukraine after Obama refused for fear of escalating the conflict…did you vote for Jill Stein?? 😂
What is a jill stein?
Did you vote for Trump who expanded NATO when he was president before??
I guess that doesn't answer my question, does it?
🙄
Funny how the talk of "equal Allies" always seems to circle back to how much more Europe should spend, mostly on American gear, from American firms, supporting American jobs. That’s not a partnership of equals, that’s a business model dressed up in patriotism.
From a realpolitik lens, it makes sense, of course. The U.S. isn't doing this out of charity or some sacred belief in "shared defense." It’s protecting its industrial base, locking in arms markets, and maintaining strategic leverage over Europe.
That’s classic hegemon behavior: keep Allies just capable enough to defend themselves, but dependent enough to keep the U.S. at the center.
They can make their own equipment. They aren’t being forced to buy our stuff.
You make an interesting point — hegemony isn’t only about defense spending or industrial leverage, it can also show up in culture. Many Japanese people, for instance, have voiced concern when Western powers try to impose their own cultural standards on Japan. What makes Japan such a strong partner is that it stands on its own traditions and modern creativity, not dependency. Partnerships last when they’re grounded in respect for sovereignty and trust, not just balance sheets.
I hear the usual Euro whine here about US hegemony. But it rings hollow when Euro Allies don’t make any effort to be equal.
Well said!
So the Trump Admin is now openly pressuring Europe to fund the expansion of the U.S. military-industrial complex -- this is exactly the kind of influence that Eisenhower warned us that we needed to safeguard our democracy against over 70 years ago. It's just another step along the short path toward overt authoritarian rule in the U.S. where the government serves the interests of a wealthy few while feeding bullshit to the masses. The military should be subject to the Constitution, not shareholders in new military tech. One of the scariest things I read so far this year was when Trump/Hegseth purged the JAG officers... now there's this.
Why do we still need NATO?
The USSR imploded quite some time ago.
This is nothing but a ruse, to extract money from hard-pressed taxpayers, for wealthy arms merchants, and their stock holders.
Let Europe worry about its own defense.
NATO is an agreement by Europe to die degrading an enemy before they get to America…it’s one of the best deals for America in our history! And Obama got the defense spending down as low as possible without making Republicans freak out like they under Clinton. So unless you want another Bush/Cheney who invade another country and explode defense spending you should just be satisfied with the relatively low spending Obama got us to and Trump and Biden have maintained.
BS.
NATO was set up to repel the USSR.
When the USSR imploded, NATO should have been disbanded.
It's nothing but a money laundering scheme for war pigs, designed to keep wars going forever.
It does nothing to benefit most Americans, and Trump's wish to increase "defense" spending to $1 TRILLION is absurd.
I actually supported your position up until February 2022 when Putin invaded Ukraine…at that point he made NATO relevant again. And a big part of NATO being successful going forward is the EU importing American LNG and end imports of Russian natural gas. Biden played everything perfectly and made America energy dominant.
If Biden played everything perfectly, then why was I paying more than $5 for a gallon of gas during his rule? Why was the Nordstream pipeline blown up?
Gas is already down to $3.20/gallon where I live.
We are the biggest energy producing country on the planet—those high energy prices for a short period were great for America. So we had record fracking bankruptcies in 2020 and by October 2022 the fracking industry was profitable and creating jobs and making America stronger. Natural gas is more important than oil now and natural gas prices started rising in November 2024 and so if you live in Texas you might be in for a utility bill shock!
“. . . those high energy prices for a short period were great for America.”
Those high prices pushed up the prices of everything else, making it next to impossible for working class Americans to afford gas, food, or anything else. We don’t all own stock in oil companies, you know.
I’m so glad to hear from you how great they were, though. You must hang out with Paul Krugman.
Thanks for taking this post, Mr. Ambassador! President Trump has assembled a stellar team of the best and brightest patriots. You service and sacrifice are appreciated, more than you know.
please kick Turkey out of NATO
I think the US should leave NATO.
Do it if you can 💩💩
I thought we supplied Abrams tanks to Ukraine and they don't use them because they are vulnerable to drones?
I am glad you are able to take a victory lap! Europe has been visibly coasting defense-wise since the collapse of the Warsaw Pact.
But don’t you kinda suspect the 10 year 5% GDP implementation timeframe is actually a loophole that will let the not-on-the-border, socialist, self-satisfied recalcitrants like Germany and Denmark wait until the next couple of US Executives’ Administrations before spending much more than a Euro on meeting that 5% target?
Good
PSA: Anyone left supporting this Regime is complicit in Constitutional Treason.
Giggle-tastic
I absolutely agree with the Ambassador Matthew G. Whitaker.
Europe's renewed commitment to defense spending is an important development for
Transatlantic strength.
It is a great breakthrough, after years of underinvestment, that European NATO allies have pledged to significantly increase their defense budgets, with the aim of 5% of GDP by 2035.
This high reaching goal, championed by the U.S, aims to ensure that NATO remains a strong deterrent and resilient force in an evolving geopolitical landscape.
Hi
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