[exceptione]

  > There is definitely truth that Europe has relied on US defense for too long,

That wasn't the problem for the USA, on the contrary.

  «The U.S. is lobbying against SAFE because it mandates contractors from the EU/EFTA/Ukraine. One reason why Tusk is speaking candidly about how shaky the U.S. is as an ally: Washington says it wants Europe to arm itself and take its security into its own hands, but then it demands Europe rely on American hardware. You can't have it both ways.
  The U.S. said: "Take over Ukraine's war needs." So Europe did so. Now PURL purchases are being slowed down or are on hold because of America's prioritization of its own requirements for the war with Iran. Talking out of both sides of one's mouth doesn't work anymore, and if Trump wants anyone to blame here, he should look in the mirror. Forfeiting America's security patronage always meant forfeiting our ability to bully and coerce.»
  src: https://xcancel.com/michaeldweiss/status/2047689018683408593

[tim333]

Worse than "Washington says it wants Europe to arm itself". There's the business of threatening to take Greenland for one thing.

[pjc50]

Even before Trump, and the invasion of Ukraine, it was transparently obvious that the idea of minimum spending commitment to NATO was intended to prop up the US arms industry rather than actually achieve anything military.

To a certain extent the US occupation of Germany was intended to prevent Germany rearming on its own.

[benterix]

> it was transparently obvious that the idea of minimum spending commitment to NATO was intended to prop up the US arms industry

...to Trump. European leaders took it literally: since the USA stopped being a reliable partner, Europe needs to depend on itself for protection. It makes zero sense to buy American weapons if you can produce/purchase them on the continent.

[embedding-shape]

> It makes zero sense to buy American weapons if you can produce/purchase them on the continent.

And if you can't, the better option still remains to try to keep it "local" and not rely on very far away "partners".

[vrganj]

They knew what Trump meant, but this way they could agree at a surface level to keep him happy, while actively distancing themselves in reality.