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He has been pretty vocal about exactly that. He said multiple times that European countries must increase defense budgets significantly.
by bufferoverflow 2y ago
He has been pretty vocal about exactly that. He said multiple times that European countries must increase defense budgets significantly.
- preisschild 2y agoYeah, but EU countries donated weapons like the F-16, which were bought from the US in the first place. So now we have to use another source for those weapon systems and the revenue/jobs won't end up in the US. Is this really what the US wants?
- bufferoverflow 2y agoThat's US's problem. Which is very minor compared to Ukraine's or Europe's problems with this war.
- goodluckchuck 2y ago[flagged]
- bufferoverflow 2y agoMost European nations don't have nukes. If Russia overruns Ukraine (which, I really hope, they won't be able to), their next targets are Moldova, Kazakhstan, Georgia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia. Will Europe start a nuclear war over any of these countries being invaded? Doubt it.
- goodluckchuck 2y agoI’m talking about rhetoric and deterrence and values. When Putin was building up for war, the US was saying we’d provide money and “defensive” weapons. That’s basically an invitation. It’s saying we won’t do what it takes to win. That’s fine. If we don’t care enough to prevent it, then we can own that and let it happen without millions dying. Or, if we really won’t let that happen, then we can make that the reality and again save millions of lives. I don’t understand how Europe seems to think that a world war among nuclear powers is the least-risky approach. If we keep fighting someone is going to start using them anyway.
- acdha 2y agoYes, but he said that in the context of buying American products. He wanted the American economy to benefit from arms sales, not a more independent Europe.
- Jerrrrrry 2y agoSource please, that seems totally made up. He has been clear about NATO %'s, very little room for your confusion.
- przemub 2y agoEU is being threatened with tariffs because we’re not buying „enough” things from the US, including among others arms. The „suggestion” has always been to spend that money in the USA.
- acdha 2y agoAlmost every time he talks about it you’ll see some detail like this link shared by someone else: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-13/trump-tells-europe-to-buy-american-weapons-to-keep-nato-strong https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-13/trump-tel...
- goodluckchuck 2y agoHistorically, an independent Europe has meant continental war after continental war, and Europe is again pushing for a continental war.
- azan_ 2y agoWhat are you talking about? Isn't it Russia that's pushing for a continental war, not Europe?
- acdha 2y agoThis isn’t “Europe” pushing for a war, that’s solely Russia. That’s also why this policy reversal is so shocking: until recently, pretty much everyone accepted the post-WWII consensus that the United States helping to stabilize Europe was better for everyone. Trump throwing in with Russia is not only a betrayal of our allies but also dramatically increasing the risk of war since it tells Russia and anyone else so inclined that wars of aggression are viable as long as you make it financially rewarding for him.
- rad_gruchalski 2y agoYes. To buy more American weapons.