[Text/Observer Network Chen Sijia] According to a report by the New York Post on April 29, US National Security Advisor Hartz stated in an interview on the same day that the US government's debt had already exceeded $33 trillion, leaving no room for further "subsidies" to European allies. He believes that NATO's European member states need to further increase defense spending and take responsibility for European defense and aid to Ukraine on their own.

Hartz said that the Trump administration will continue to support Europe militarily and diplomatically, but will also demand more from Europe.

He gave an example: "Look at the issue of the Houthis in Yemen. The vast majority (of shipping through the Red Sea) goes to Europe, but they have not invested in naval forces to address this problem or at least assist us in a better way. At some point, this will affect their way of life, their trade, their commerce, and their ability to keep the economy running."

He added that the Trump administration has clearly indicated that future aid to Ukraine must be led by Europe, "and this is just a basic result of relevant negotiations."

Hartz also mentioned the issue of NATO members' defense spending. He told the New York Post that many NATO countries still have not achieved the goal of raising their defense budget to 2% of GDP.

"Let us look back and remember that all NATO member states promised to achieve the 2% target 11 years ago, which was already the minimum standard in 2014. What happened in 2014? Russia took control of Crimea. This should have been a wake-up call for every country to reach the minimum standard 100%," Hartz said.

He criticized that after the outbreak of the "largest land war in Europe since World War II" between Russia and Ukraine, NATO's European members are still lagging behind in defense budgets, "which is really shocking."

US National Security Advisor Mike Hartz Visual China

The report cited NATO statistics stating that in 2024, including the United States and Canada, the average contribution of the 32 NATO countries to collective security would be 2.71% of GDP. In February, officials from Poland, Latvia, Romania, Denmark, and the UK pledged that they would allocate 3% to 5% of GDP to defense in the coming years. Sweden, Estonia, and the Czech Republic also committed in March to reach the same level between 2026 and 2030.

"We still have a long way to go, and we will continue to ask our allies to pay their fair share. They will share this burden together," Hartz said. "The United States, with its debt of $33 trillion, can no longer afford subsidies for European security. We must differentiate our Eastern European allies, such as Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, etc."

Hartz also hyped up the "China-Russia threat," urging Canada to build bases and icebreakers in the Arctic. He claimed: "There are new oil and gas resources and critical minerals there. China and Russia are opening new routes and advancing into that region."

In recent years, the US government's debt has grown rapidly. The Trump administration is attempting to cut government spending through layoffs and other means. However, CBS reported on April 29 that federal government spending increased by about $220 billion compared to the previous year during Trump's first 100 days in office. The US Treasury reported that the actual debt reached $36 trillion this week.

After Trump returned to the White House, the US stance on the Ukraine crisis gradually changed. Recently, Trump said that after three hours of talks between US Middle East envoy Whitaker and Putin on the 25th, Russia and Ukraine were "very close to reaching an agreement."

Reuters reported that the agreement includes the US legally recognizing Russia's control over Crimea and de facto recognizing Russia's control over the current occupied areas in eastern Ukraine. The agreement also excludes the possibility of Ukraine joining NATO, while planning for a "voluntary coalition" led by the UK and France to provide security guarantees to Ukraine without US participation after a ceasefire.

This agreement sparked strong reactions from Ukraine and the EU. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy said that the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory has been ruled out. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Borrell emphasized that the EU will never recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

While Trump demanded more security obligations from Europe, the EU also proposed the "rearmament of Europe" plan due to concerns over the shift in Trump's administration's stance. Last month, European Commission President von der Leyen announced that the EU plans to invest 800 billion euros to enhance the defense capabilities of European countries and strengthen support for Ukraine, creating "a safe and resilient Europe."

On April 29 local time, von der Leyen spoke at the European People's Party Congress, saying that as the US moves away from its security commitments, the EU must take responsibility for its own defense. "The threat posed by Russia will not disappear, and we know that the US is increasingly focusing on other regions. Therefore, it is beyond doubt that European peace requires us to take greater responsibility for our own defense."

However, analysts worry that von der Leyen's plan does not include clear financing mechanisms, and how the EU will fund the rearmament plan remains unknown. Former EU Commission senior economist Hasan Alkas told Anadolu Agency that the "rearmament of Europe" plan could lead to economic collapse in Europe.

Alkas warned that the EU is facing a series of problems, including an energy crisis, deindustrialization, and economic stagnation. Supporting the defense industry through massive borrowing plans may constitute "the final blow to a failing economy." He frankly stated: "The US-led Western bloc is declining, yesterday's transatlantic partners have become today's enemies. If Europe experiences an identity crisis every time there is a change in the US administration, it indicates that we are in big trouble."

This article is an exclusive contribution from Observer Network and cannot be reprinted without permission.

Source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7499052108860342803/

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