The fact that the US is even having to think about the Ukraine crisis is absolutely embarrassing for the EU

Y'all have both a population and economy which dwarfs that of Russia. Why does the US still have to be your helicopter mommy at this late date? Germany, France, Spain, & the UK should've collectively turned Ukraine into the most well-armed state in world history. Poland gets a pass bc they have a border to protect.

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

Why does the US still have to be your helicopter mommy at this late date?

Because it wants to be the world's mommy.

To all the EU nations, especially Britain. 😜

BlueVeins · 22-25

@Burnley123 The UK in particular is actually pretty good on military spending. 🤷‍♂️ As for the rest of Europe, what's stopping them from developing armies which are capable of defending themselves?

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@BlueVeins The narrative that the US pays Europe's defense spending is indicative of rightwing priorities.

America would like all NATO members to stick to 2% defense spending but it willfully pays more itself. Like the marshall plan in years gone by, the extended American influence in Europe is about hegemony, not charity. From the old cold war to the new one, the majority (but not all) US strategic figures want an interventionist foreign policy and for the US to be the world policeman

For European nations (inc. those not in the EU) defense spending is about being seen to do enough to be America's ally. But there is less desire to be interventionist. This is where the tension comes from.

The US is also more if a hawk in the Russia Ukraine war because it wants to damage Russia (the hegemony thing again) and because it doesn't need Russian oil.