The Secretary General of NATO, Jens Stoltenberg:
“I’ve always been puzzled: the wealthiest region in the world—the European Union—still relies on support from another region to defend against Russia, and to such an extent that we are overly dependent on a single ally: the United States.
Who can tell me why this is so?”
Stoltenberg’s remarks can be seen as a strong “wake-up call” and strategic appeal regarding Europe’s current defense posture. His core argument is clear: despite Europe’s economic prosperity and abundant resources, it remains dangerously reliant on a foreign power—America—to counter a threat that is geographically proximate: Russia. This strategic arrangement is neither rational nor sustainable.
Criticizing Europe’s long-term “free-riding”: Since the end of the Cold War, Europe has drastically cut military spending, shifting nearly all security responsibilities onto the United States. As a result, Europe has failed to develop an independent, comprehensive collective defense capability. Even critical areas such as intelligence gathering, reconnaissance, long-range strike capacity, and strategic transport remain heavily dependent on U.S. forces.
Raising concerns about American reliability: With rising political polarization in the U.S. and the rise of “America First” ideology, there is growing uncertainty about whether the U.S. will continue to unconditionally protect Europe in the future. Stoltenberg implies that Europe cannot afford to place its security fate in the hands of U.S. election outcomes or the whims of a single president.
Promoting genuine “strategic autonomy”: He calls on Europe to accelerate increases in defense budgets, integrate defense industrial capacity, enhance rapid response capabilities, and—most importantly—reduce over-dependence on U.S.-made weapons and command systems. This represents the most direct reflection within NATO on “burden-sharing” since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
As a native of Europe and the head of NATO, Stoltenberg expresses both regret and urgency: Europeans have long relied on a foreign power—America—for security, yet they now face a stark reality. We possess immense wealth, yet refuse to invest our own resources to defend our homeland. That is no longer tenable. The truth is straightforward: for decades, Europe chose to rely on America—because it was cheaper and less troublesome. But that era is ending.
As a bloc, Europe poses a strategic challenge to the United States. America does not wish to see a powerful, unified Europe emerge to rival it. America’s strategy has always been to fragment the whole and defeat it piece by piece.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865934911543308/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.