#Hegseth’s comments largely mischaracterized #Europe policies today. On defense, European #allies & #Canada have launched an unprecedented effort to boost #defense spending & expand their armed forces. #NATO Sec-Gen Mark Rutte noted Thursday that they spent $90 billion more on defense last year, a 20% increase over 2024. And while Europe accepted large numbers of #immigrants & #asylum seekers more than a decade ago, most countries have tightened their borders since.
…Under #NATO’s collective #security guarantee – #Article5 of its founding treaty – the 32 #allies pledge that an attack on one of them will be considered an attack on all. It does not oblige them to provide #military support, although many likely would.
In essence, the United States is scaling back how it might help should an #ally trigger Article 5.
