Financial Times: European military powers are working on plan to fill in the VS role within NATO

The largest military powers in Europe are working on a plan to take more responsibility for the continent defense in the next five to ten years. That reports The Financial Times Based on four European officials. The United Kingdom, France and Germany are involved in the discussions, among other things. The aim is to submit a proposal to the Trump government prior to the annual NATO summit in June in The Hague.

The discussions are intended to prevent a withdrawal from the United States from NATO, a fear that has been fueled by the repeated threats of President Donald Trump to leave the Transatlantic alliance that Europe has been protecting for almost eight decades. According to the officials, it would require approximately five to ten years of increased defense spending to bring European military capacities to a level at which they can take over the most American tasks.

Sturdy commitments

The proposal would contain strong commitments about increasing European defense expenditure and strengthening military capacities. The countries hope to convince Trump so as not to leave NATO. The US spends more on defense than all other NATO allies together and are therefore indispensable for European safety. « Increasing expenses is the only option we have, » said one of the officials The Financial Times.

Although American diplomats have reassured their European colleagues that Trump will not withdraw the US from NATO, many European countries have been concerned that the president will suddenly do that.

When asked whether the plan of European countries is feasible, one of the officials replied that it can already be seen: « The UK and France take the initiative for a plan without the Americans. » The officer is referring to the formation of a Coalition of the Willing To support Ukraine. This group now consists of around thirty countries.

To share





Mail the editors