United States envoy to NATO Matthew Whitaker has likened NATO’s (North Atlantic Treaty Organization) European members to children, who must eventually leave parental care and get a job. Whitaker said that while the U.S. “still loves” its allies on the continent, they need to grow up.
At the presentation of an annual report on Monday, the organizers of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) said, “for decades, Europe thrived under an American security umbrella that allowed it to prioritize integration and prosperity over hard power. That era has ended.”
At that same presentation, Whitaker said, “I completely reject everything I just heard.” Washington is “not trying to dismantle NATO,” he added, but only wants to see its European allies take more responsibility for their defense. “When your kids are young, they’re dependent on you. But eventually, you expect them to get a job. And so to me, that’s where we are. We still love them. You’re still allies,” the envoy told the audience.
During its first year, the Trump administration repeatedly stated that it would scale back commitments to its European allies, while focusing on “defending the US Homeland and deterring China.”
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According to a report by RT, Whitaker also thanked the allies for agreeing to boost military spending to 5% in 2024, but said that they are being too sluggish in turning this money into actual military capabilities.
“One of the things that I’ve noticed in my time here in Europe is there is a lot of discussion and not a lot of action,” Whitaker stressed.
Last year, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte drew mockery and accusations of “sucking up” to Trump after he called the American leader “daddy” during the bloc’s summit in The Hague.
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Trump appeared to have enjoyed the comparison, telling journalists that it was a sign of affection. “I think he likes me; if he doesn’t, I’ll come back and hit him hard,” Trump joked.