Senator J.D. Vance argued in a Financial Times op-ed that the U.S. spending lavishly to defend Europe amounts to an “implied tax” on Americans.
As the U.S. defense budget nears $1 trillion annually, Vance contends much of that money allows for Europe’s security as European nations have diminished their own defense spending.
“As the American defense budget nears $1tn per year, we ought to view the money Europe hasn’t spent on defense for what it really is: an implied tax on the American people to allow for the security of Europe,” Vance wrote.
Vance suggested America has been asked to excessively fill the void, costing U.S. citizens tremendously.
He questioned if European allies can’t defend themselves, whether they are truly allies or clients.
“Nothing in recent memory demonstrates this more clearly than the war in Ukraine. There is frankly no good reason that aid from the US should be needed. Europe is made up of many great nations with productive economies. They ought to have the capacity to handle the conflict, but over decades they have become far too weak. America has been asked to fill the void at tremendous expense to its own citizens,” Vance said.
“The question each European nation needs to ask itself is this: are you prepared to defend yourself? And the question the U.S. must ask is: if our European allies can’t even defend themselves, are they allies, or clients?” he wrote.
While wanting European partners, Vance says Americans’ generosity in Ukraine is ending and it’s time for Europe to stand on its own feet militarily and not continue using America as a crutch.
He called on European nations to reconsider their relationship with both the U.S. and Russia going forward.
“We owe it to our European partners to be honest: Americans want allies in Europe, not client states, and our generosity in Ukraine is coming to an end. Europeans should regard the conclusion of the war there as an imperative. They must keep rebuilding their industrial and military capabilities. And Europe should consider how exactly it is going to live with Russia when the war in Ukraine is over,” Vance said.
“But the time has come for Europe to stand on its own feet. That doesn’t mean it has to stand alone, but it must not continue to use America as a crutch,” he wrote.
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