The United States has been warning its European allies about the need to invest more in defense to alleviate NATO's burden, a pressure that has intensified under the administration of Donald Trump. The distance marked by the Trump Administration has led European countries to agree on an increase in security and defense spending to strengthen themselves against the 'existential threat' posed by Russian aggression in Ukraine.
In this context, Trump has threatened to cancel aid to Ukraine to pressure President Zelensky, which has led to a reaction from European countries agreeing to accelerate investment in defense and continue supporting Ukraine. For Europe, the security of the continent is at stake, while for the United States, the short-term impact is not immediate, but it could be long-term.
Félix Arteaga, senior researcher at the Real Instituto Elcano, emphasizes the need for the European Union to assume greater responsibility in defense and security in collaboration with the U.S. There has been a gap between Trump's warnings and their realization, but now there is a greater urgency to take concrete measures.
The necessity for European allies to present themselves at the next NATO summit with greater financial commitment has been raised, at a time when the future of the Alliance is being debated and efforts are being made to prevent the disengagement of the United States. However, the target of 2% of GDP in defense spending, proposed at the NATO Summit in Wales in 2014, has still not been reached by several member countries, including Spain.
The threat of a new Russian invasion in Ukraine in 2022 has renewed NATO's focus, showing greater cohesion among allies. Arteaga is confident that the relationship between the U.S. and the Alliance will remain strong, even amidst current tensions, and that the European Union will increase its commitment in defense to safeguard its long-term security.
