Is Europe ready to actually assume its own defense functions?
It’s no secret that America has a large military presence throughout Europe. According to some figures, there are over 60,000 troops stationed in Europe.
The amusing part is that Europe is filled with a lot of first world, developed nations that are more than capable of defending themselves from external threats if they actually bothered to spend money.
Kentucky Congressman Thomas Massie pointed this out in a tweet on March 15, 2022. He tweeted, “One of the biggest con jobs ever pulled off:
Leftists and the Military Industrial Complex convincing Conservatives to heavily subsidize the military defense of Socialist countries.
Wake up Republicans!”
One of the biggest con jobs ever pulled off:
Leftists and the Military Industrial Complex convincing Conservatives to heavily subsidize the military defense of Socialist countries.
Wake up Republicans!
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) March 15, 2022
Countries like Germany (35,468), Italy (12,436), and the United Kingdom (9,576) already have sizable American troops deployed. These are rich social democracies that could fund their own national defense. The Russian invasion of Ukraine gave Europe a wake-up call that the prospect of war still exists.
Germany, for example, has decided to boost defense spending over 2% of its GDP in response to Russia’s invasion. This is a good sign and should be encouraged. Europe needs to pull its weight.
However, the U.S. needs to start withdrawing troops from Europe — a region that is no longer strategically important for the U.S. Instead, the U.S. needs to redirect its military assets towards the southern border, an area where the U.S. has a pressing national interest.
American foreign policy should be one that defends the Historic American Nation, not the interests of defense contractors nor foreigners.
