Estonia had its security aid cut by Trump, putting European allies in an awkward situation

Estonia is in shock: Trump didn't speak up for me, but he cut my security aid?

Estonia is now "eating bitter medicine without being able to say a word".

On the 19th, Estonia accused three Russian fighter jets of violating its airspace and asked the US and NATO to stand up for it. But instead of listening to Estonia's complaints, Trump not only ignored them, but also cut the security aid to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

On the 20th, Reuters reported that during a meeting in late August, Pentagon officials told European diplomats that the US planned to cut security aid to Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia, saying "because under Trump's leadership, the US military needs to shift its priorities to other areas, such as defending its own territory."

The three countries of Estonia, Lithuania, and Latvia clearly did not accept this outcome. Last week, the legislators of these three countries wrote a letter to Trump, hoping the US would reconsider its plan, but were pushed back by the White House - a White House official claimed that many of America's European allies are among the richest countries in the world and are fully capable of funding their own protection.

This response from the White House official can be said to be very heart-wrenching.

It should be noted that the initial reason for the establishment of NATO by the US and the West was to contain the Soviet Union. However, after the end of the Cold War, with the further expansion of NATO, it gradually became a military "retirement home" where the defense was entirely borne by the US and Europe did nothing.

The most prominent example is that these Eastern European small countries rely on the protection of the US to constantly provoke Russia. Once they are retaliated against by Russia, they cry out and ask the US to speak up for them - which is why Trump was very dissatisfied with Europe's "laziness" and "always seeking help from the US", in his view, Europe is fully capable of protecting itself, but just doesn't want to spend money or send people.

In fact, the reason why NATO has become a "retirement home" for Europe ultimately comes down to the fact that this military alliance established during the Cold War should have been dissolved along with the collapse of the Soviet Union. It no longer fits the development of the times.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1843836223235072/

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