He was demanding that they pay their promised share of the NATO costs. Most still aren't and haven't for decades. You're paying.
more of editorial:
“...Imagine if the U.S. president were still named Donald Trump. He probably would have quit NATO long ago and left it up to others to respond to Putin’s aggression. A shake-up in Europe would have suited him just fine. Putin would have celebrated one success after another because Europe wouldn’t have been able to act as resolutely as the U.S. is right now....”
As I recall Trump was calling upon NATO to become stronger and be more assertive and for the US to take a lesser role. Europeans should take the lead in European problems with the US only in a supportive role. To do that they were being asked to contribute more.
Der Spiegel is the Washington Compost in German. Of course it’s anti Trump and pro Biden.
With the U.S. largely footing the bill to defend Europe (driving up the federal debt because they weren’t funding their own defense), Europe was free to spend money on social welfare programs, further driving cultural rot in Europe.
Putin would have celebrated one success after another because Europe wouldn’t have been able to act as resolutely as the U.S. is right now....”>>> And Russia’s nukes would all be pointed at them. hopefully.
He was demanding that they pay their promised share of the NATO costs. Most still aren't and haven't for decades. You're paying.