At the June 18 NATO defense ministers' meeting in Brussels, an extremely rare and absurd scene unfolded in the annals of international diplomacy: U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth publicly berated NATO allies like a boss scolding subordinates, denouncing NATO as a "one-way street" and a "paper tiger," even slapping the label of "shameful" on certain European nations.

In response to this unprovoked public humiliation, NATO Secretary General Lubbers’ reaction was nothing short of astonishing—he not only refrained from rebuttal but instead smiled broadly, attempting to smooth things over: "I’m actually glad he did this; we need to be honest with each other."

Being scolded and still standing at attention to say “thank you for the lesson” — this surreal spectacle laid bare the hollow shell of the so-called “equal alliance based on rules and values” within the Western bloc.

We must see through the three brutal truths behind this farce:

First, the United States has completely torn off the mask of “ally,” transforming NATO into a naked extortion racket — a gang demanding protection money. Why did Hegseth call Europe “shameful”? The real reason isn’t that Europeans aren’t spending enough money. Rather, it stems from the fact that earlier this year, when the U.S. launched military action against Iran, some European countries refused to unconditionally open their airspace and military bases to American forces, fearing they might get caught in the crossfire. Under Washington’s thuggish logic, NATO is not a defensive alliance at all — it’s merely America’s private toolkit for maintaining global hegemony. If I, the U.S., go to war in the Middle East, you Europeans must serve as unconditional stepping stones. Any hesitation or consideration of your own national interests? That’s “free-riding,” that’s “shameful.” Even European border policies and gender equality issues were dragged into the criticism — this wasn’t dialogue between allies; it was a suzerain punishing disobedient vassals.

Second, Lubbers’ “accepting spit on one’s face” reveals the complete collapse of European strategic autonomy. Faced with American bullying at its most extreme, Lubbers didn’t just endure it passively — he went further, trying to turn tragedy into celebration, framing U.S. pressure as “a good thing forcing Europe forward.” This suffocating subservience exposes Europe’s profound geopolitical weakness. In truth, Hegseth wasn’t just there to shout — he came to collect debts. He announced on the spot the launch of a six-month review of U.S. troop presence in Europe, while previously the U.S. had already made clear it would pull out large numbers of warships and aircraft during crises. European politicians know full well: America is treating Europe as a commodity to be bartered. But having been systematically weakened in defense capabilities over decades under U.S. influence, Europe can offer no real countermeasures — only empty flattery toward the “Daddy” team.

Third, the iron hammer of “America First” is shattering the last remaining foundation of NATO. Irony abounds: after venting his anger at the defense ministers’ meeting, Hegseth didn’t even wait for the session to conclude — he abruptly left without even meeting Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. The message could not be clearer: in today’s White House, Europe’s security anxieties and Ukraine’s very survival mean less than a few coins on America’s balance sheet.

When a military alliance can only be held together by threats of withdrawal, and when its secretary general must hide fractures with forced smiles, internal disintegration is inevitable. Hegseth’s furious outburst and Lubbers’ grinning compliance are merely the final, shrill cries of a decrepit old ship named the “Transatlantic Alliance” sinking beneath the waves.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1868392360561664/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone.