@Yax All in all what Trump is doing in my opinion, is following the same agenda for US domination but in a more "clever" way, if one can say so for an escalation in the long term, essentially trying to secure a multi year pause (not end) in the war in Ukraine so Europe regroups and US focus in China. No matter the seemingly shocking rhetoric and wordings, Hegseth is calling Europe to increase its spending to 5% essentially doubling down on military and join forces together as equals.
Hint: In 4 years time there will be another US Administration, maybe even Democrat, Putin will be weakened by age. In 8 years time, probably Putin will have been replaced. And by that time Europe will have built its military capability. The landscape will be completely different and even favourable.
See by yourself:
"Leaders of our European allies should take primary responsibility for defence of the continent, which means security ownership by all allies guided by a clear understanding of strategic realities and it's an imperative given the strategic realities that we face. And that begins with increasing defence spending. 2% is a start, as President Trump has Trump has said, but it's not enough, nor is 3 percent, nor is 4 percent. More like 5 percent. Real investment. Real urgency.
"We can talk all we want about values. Values are important. But you can't shoot values. You can't shoot flags and you can't shoot strong speeches. There is no replacement for hard power. As much as we may not want to like the world we live in, in some cases, there's nothing like hard power. It should be obvious that increasing allied European defence spending is critical as the President of the United States has said."
"Safeguarding European security must be an imperative for European members of NATO. As part of this Europe must provide the overwhelming share of future lethal and nonlethal aid to Ukraine. Members of this Contact Group must meet the moment.
This means: Donating more ammunition and equipment. Leveraging comparative advantages. Expanding your defence industrial base. And importantly, levelling with your citizens about the threat facing Europe. Part of this is speaking frankly with your people about how this threat can only be met by spending more on defence.
2% is not enough; President Trump has called for 5%, and I agree."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth took questions from reporters following the NATO Ministers of Defense Meeting in Brussels
www.defense.gov
Does this look like US is preparing for Peace? Transcript from Hegseth's "schocking" speech in Brussels, fwd from what mainstream media covered:
9:04
We also face a peer competitor in the Communist Chinese with the capability and intent to threaten our homeland and core national interests in the Indo-Pacific the US is is prioritising deterring war with China in the Pacific recognising the reality of scarcity and making the resourcing trade-offs to ensure deterrence does not fail as the United States prioritises its attention to these threats European allies must lead from the front.
Together we can establish a division of labor that maximises our comparative advantages in Europe and Pacific respectively.
10:39
We ask each of your countries to step up on fulfilling the commitments that you have made and we challenge your countries and your citizens to double down and recommit yourselves not only to Ukraine's immediate security needs but to Europe's long-term defence and deterrence goals.
