[gunnut]

Europe will never be fully prepared to defend itself unless we stop all together. Then see their social programs run out of Mooney because they have been welfare recipients of US military funding and defense support.

[jacknhoo]

Eric Daugherty @EricLDaugh
4h
🚨 HOLY SMOKES. President Trump just OBLITERATED NATO, basically calling them freeloaders who barely deserve his presence if it weren’t for Turkey

“ITALY turned us down. GERMANY turned us down. FRANCE turned us down.”

“We WEREN’T TREATED WELL.”

“I was VERY disappointed with NATO. Frankly? If it weren’t held in Turkey...it’s possible I would NOT have attended [NATO]. I felt I had to because [Erdogan] has gone all out.”

“In a way, I was testing people!”

“Why are we spending hundreds of billions of dollars, they weren’t there for us, we’ve been there for them.”

“We protect European countries...you’d THINK they’d be very willing to do something to help us. And they REALLY WEREN’T.”

https://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/2074476923095269797?s=20

[Tallguy]

“Francken thinks it’ll take Europe ‘five to 10 years’ to build up the capabilities provided by the US.”

Considering that the US provides the bulk of the naval & air forces I would say that “5 to 10 years” to replace the capabilities provided by the USA is wildly optimistic, particular when you consider the economic challenges facing by EU countries. While you might be able to finesse limited air capabilities, the alliance can’t build a naval force overnight.