Tell Europe to Defend Themselves

It is beyond comprehension why President Trump is talking about guarantees of Ukrainian sovereignty. Far to much US blood has been shed, and US tax dollars have been spent, protecting Europe. I had hoped that we finally had a president with the balls to tell Europe it was time for them to grow a pair, and to show enough of a “stick” to force them to do something meaningful.

I am not opposed to US defense spending. I am opposed to using our tax dollars to defend nations that have the resources to defend themselves. I want us to have the strongest military in the world. I want our soldiers to have the best equipment and training in the world. I want our soldiers to be better paid and have better benefits.

It has been nearly 3 years since Russia invaded the Ukraine. The EU nations have spent most of that time whining that the US isn’t doing enough. That is bullshit! They have had plenty of time to gear up their defense industries to provide the Ukraine with everything needed to drive Russia out of the Ukraine. They will never do that while the US politicians show a willingness to spend US lives and dollars to defend them. France is the 4th most powerful nuclear nation. It has 4 nuke equipped subs and air to surface nuclear cruise missiles.

Ten years ago NATO nations promised to spend at least 2% of their GDP on defense, most haven’t. Why should they when Uncle Sam is there for them to hide behind? In 2023 total NATO member spending was $1.341 trillion, the US accounted for $916 billion of that.

Russia has a population of only 144 million; it has a GDP of only $2.5 trillion. Before the war Ukraine had a population of 40 million and a GDP of  $160 billion (it now has a GDP of nearly $190 billion). The 27 European Union nations have a combined population of 450 million and a combined GDP of $19 trillion. Just five of the EU nations (Germany, France, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands) have a combined population of 279 million and a combined GDP of $12.1 trillion. The EU has plenty of resources to assist the Ukraine in driving Russia back out of the Ukraine, they just don’t have the balls to do so, especially with the history of the US always being willing to rescue them.


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