Europe should have ceased relying on the United States for security as soon as it substantially recovered from WWII. That it didn't has been a bone of contention since before the collapse of the U.S.S.R.

[–] jbloggs777@discuss.tchncs.de 10 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

The US benefited from the slavish dependence of european countries on it, and the good business conditions that came with it. This started to change with the EU and in particular with the introduction of the euro.

I guess that it's time for civilized Europe to become a military powerhouse once again.

[–] The_Che_Banana@beehaw.org 2 points 1 week ago

Coupled with the fact that a fully armed Europe would have been viewed as a very large threat to the USSR and they might have started some shenanigans before they collapsed.

[–] smokeysnilas@feddit.org 4 points 1 week ago

You're right. Also I can't believe we wasted the 4 years under Biden and now are again caught with our pants down.

[–] Realitaetsverlust@lemmy.zip 3 points 1 week ago

This here. It's not a trump issue, it's an issue of not being able to defend your own country. Every country must be able to properly fend for itself and most European countries are not. The entire British army has less long distance missiles than a single american submarine. Germany only has enough ammunition for a single day of combat.

It's just pathetic. We tried to safe money for decades and now it just backfires immensely.

[–] angrystego@lemmy.world 2 points 1 week ago

To be fair, the fear of repeating the terrible wars that started in Europe was strong even after European countries recovered. I suppose it didn't look like the greatest idea to let Germany or anyone really to have a super strong army.