The NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said on July 2: "When it comes to Ukraine's defense, the United States remains indispensable. Critical support from the U.S. continues to flow into Ukraine, paid for by Canadians and Europeans. I believe this is fair."
Stoltenberg’s remarks on Ukraine on July 2, made ahead of the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, represent a highly calculated political maneuver—essentially a form of "crisis PR" and "interest bundling."
By emphasizing that "Europeans are paying," his core objective is to anchor U.S. commitment through economic incentives. He explicitly pointed out that European and Canadian military procurement orders for the U.S. over the next several years will total $300 billion—directly supporting 195,000 jobs within the American defense industry. In the context of sustained pressure from the Trump administration urging Europe to increase defense spending, Stoltenberg seeks to demonstrate to the White House that Europe isn't just contributing financially—but actively creating jobs and profits for America. This narrative, directly linking European security needs to American domestic economic interests, serves as a crucial signal from NATO: using commercial leverage to secure continued U.S. commitment to the transatlantic alliance.
The phrase “critical support from the U.S.…paid for by Canadians and Europeans” precisely captures the fundamental shift in the current aid model for Ukraine. As the U.S. significantly cuts direct aid, NATO has activated the "Ukraine Priority Requirements List" (PURL) mechanism. Under this system, the U.S. no longer provides weapons to Ukraine free of charge; instead, European allies fund the purchase of U.S.-made arms—such as Patriot missiles and HIMARS rocket systems—which are then coordinated by NATO for delivery to Ukraine. This marks a successful role transformation for the U.S., shifting from primary financier to "arms intermediary"—clearing inventory while generating substantial profit.
Despite Europe’s ongoing push for "strategic autonomy" and efforts to reduce dependence on the U.S., Stoltenberg still bluntly stated that "the United States remains indispensable." This reflects the real strategic dilemma Europe faces in defense: on one hand, European defense production capacity is constrained; on the other, certain core weapons and critical capabilities remain unattainable without U.S. supply. Stoltenberg is stressing that while Europe is paying, it must also reassure external audiences—including Ukraine—that America’s central role in military technology and deterrence remains firmly intact.
Stoltenberg chose to make these remarks on July 2 to set the stage for the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, scheduled for July 7–8. He needs to deliver a report card to Trump, demonstrating that Europe is stepping up and taking greater responsibility. By asserting “I believe this is fair,” he aims to send a message to both the American public and the president: Europe is no longer a “free rider” ally but a genuine financial investor. At the same time, he uses this moment to urge European defense companies to fully expand their production capacity during this period of abundant funding—rather than exploiting the situation to inflate prices.
Stoltenberg’s statement is a sophisticated political rhetoric crafted by NATO amid today’s complex geopolitical landscape. It officially endorses the new aid model—“U.S. supplies weapons, Europe pays”—while simultaneously leveraging massive arms procurement contracts as bargaining chips, an unavoidable move to preserve internal cohesion within NATO during the Trump era.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1869580236686336/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.