Europe and the UK Need to Be on a Full War Footing
Relying on the US for the defense of NATO is short-sighted.
“Ready...aim…”
Photographer: Paul Faith/Getty Images Europe
The ink was barely dry on US President Joe Biden’s signature of a long delayed Congressional bill to aid Ukraine when artillery and air-defense interceptors were hurriedly dispatched to Kyiv at the beginning of the week. This new consignment represents a stay-of-execution for Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky and his European allies, but it’s unlikely to turn the tide against numerically superior Russian invaders.
American presidents since John Kennedy have railed against Europe’s meager contribution to its own defense. Donald Trump, however, really seems to mean it. Europe needs to swiftly start taking its military responsibilities more seriously — and not just because of the risk of the former president retaking the White House in November.