On that I agree with you.
I still like a NATO treaty, but the Europeans should become partners instead of welfare clients.
The American total dominance was understandable in the decades after ww2 when Europe was devastated.
Now, the EU economy is larger than that of the United States.
Obviously we should pay our fair share.
I just think such matters should be handled internally in NATO, not in an interview with the NY Times.
I completely agree with Trump. In fact I think we should pull out of NATO and form a new European alliance that includes Russia and does not include Turkey and countries that are intent upon committing cultural suicide.
And yes, I think Putin would make real concessions regarding relations with the former satellites and Iran in return for inclusion as a European partner.
Why do you think the US, a country 3,000+ miles from Europe should pay anything? It is their continent, not ours. We paid more than our "fair share" in dead US soldiers in two world wars on foreign soil.
Furthermore we are already currently paying a fortune (more than our "fair share") supporting military installations with US personnel in Germany and elsewhere in Europe. If I were Trump, I would tell Europe, no more Santa Claus from across the pond, and Europe should be paying us protection money.
I guess if you are indeed, a "Eurotwit" you disagree with my argument.