Il pacchetto di difesa “mai visto prima” in Europa in Ucraina

If the cited “hundreds of billions” or even the rumored actual number (700 billion) really comes to pass, heck, even if it was just half of it, the EU would have done legitimatelly something unfathomable. I guess the rumors around the US withdrawal from the baltics is the real kicker, not Ukraine. Because while one is a “geopolitical” play, the other is a true existential threat.

Man, the US is really willing to have the EU of all people rearm themselves. Crazy how the Trump administration is throwing away soft power build for decades out of sheer ignorance / maliciousness.

If this happens all the soft power of the US in Europe is gone.

I still dont get it. They were finishing of Russian armies with a fraction of their defence budget and not losing a single American. Why would they want to give up both the influence and gains?

Inflation incoming, poor people rekt again.

They should offer Ukraine the deal Trump wants them to take. Half their rare earth minerals and metals with all, or most of, the profits going towards funding an EU army which they are a core part of, and provides Ukraine concrete security guarantees.

Zelensky would bite their hands off, given that the alternative is handing it over to a Putin-backed Trump for a deal that likely isn’t worth the paper its signed on and wouldn’t be suggested at all if it wasn’t signed off as fitting with Putin’s plans.

Prepares, Discusses, Considers, Proposes, etc.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Finally. All it took was Trump being an idiot and Europe partially got its shit together.

Hundreds of billions is a lot of money. I am guessing the $300bn seized Russian funds will pay for much of it, now that they are openly talking about going after the eastern members of the former alliance known as NATO.

Fucking about time. Let’s see it through.

Many NATO countries, especially in Europe, consistently fail to meet the defense spending target of 2% of GDP, which they agreed upon to ensure collective security. The UK, once a top contributor, used to allocate a much larger share of its budget to defense, but over time, its military spending has been reduced due to shifting priorities and economic pressures. Meanwhile, countries like Germany and Italy have been criticized for not pulling their weight, relying heavily on the U.S. military for protection. It’s a bit ironic when Europeans, who often make fun of the U.S. for its lack of universal healthcare, seem to forget how much of America’s budget goes into defending their security. While Americans struggle with healthcare costs, they also bear the lion’s share of NATO’s defense spending, raising questions about the fairness and burden-sharing within the alliance. This has created growing resentment among many Americans, who are increasingly frustrated by the lack of reciprocity. The constant mockery of America’s shortcomings, particularly in terms of healthcare, without acknowledging the outsized role the U.S. plays in global defense, only deepens the sense of injustice and strain in the relationship.

If the U.S. were to cut its defense spending to the agreed-upon 2% of GDP, the savings would be astronomical. The U.S. currently spends around 3.5% to 4% of its GDP on defense, which amounts to over $700 billion annually. Reducing this to 2% would free up hundreds of billions of dollars—funds that could be redirected toward essential domestic issues, like funding universal healthcare. This shift could allow the U.S. to invest in healthcare programs that would provide coverage for all Americans, a move that could ease the burden of healthcare costs on individuals while improving the overall health system. The irony, of course, is that the U.S. is subsidizing global defense while struggling to address critical domestic needs. Many Americans see this as a misallocation of resources, and as resentment grows, the calls for change become louder. If NATO allies truly want a fair and sustainable partnership, it might be time for them to pull their weight, allowing the U.S. to focus more on improving life for its own citizens.

Now that what we need to see!

Shut up and take my money 💶