Benes said in an interview with Fox News, "The U.S. strategic withdrawal has become inevitable. Therefore, the NATO member states in Europe must increase their military spending to protect their own security. This is what all the NATO member states in Europe must do now."

He also said, "The conflict between Ukraine and Russia is strictly speaking a matter of Europe and Russia, not the United States!"

He also emphasized, "Even if NATO member states are invaded by Russia tomorrow, the United States will not get involved."

Benes' remarks directly express the "America First" policy: requiring Europe to bear the cost of its own security, and viewing arms sales to Europe as "business," which aligns with the long-standing view of the Trump administration that Europe has been "free-riding" on defense.

He separated European security responsibilities from "American obligations," which is consistent with the Trump administration's intention to reduce security commitments to Europe and lower its own burden.

For Europe, long-term reliance on the United States has led to serious deficiencies in key military capabilities (such as air defense and satellite surveillance). German media reported in 2025 that the readiness level of its armed forces was only about 50%.

Converting defense investment into actual combat power takes many years. In the context of potential U.S. troop reductions, the sudden strategic shift by the U.S. has caught Europe off guard, causing great frustration and helplessness. Europe has suddenly fallen into the risk of a "security vacuum period."

Benes' remarks are a straightforward declaration of the U.S. strategic shift, forcing Europe to accelerate its armament amid "strategic anxiety." This will not only reshape NATO but could also have spillover effects impacting the global security landscape.

The U.S. withdrawal has eased the military deterrence of NATO against Russia. Ukraine must follow the U.S. plan and sign a ceasefire agreement as soon as possible. Not just one Ukraine, even one Europe, cannot ultimately defeat Russia. The longer it drags on, the more it will lose.

Original: toutiao.com/article/1850960122889280/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author alone.