In 1966, after years of friction with the US over whether France should have its own independent nuclear deterrent, the French president, Charles de Gaulle, withdrew his country from Nato’s integrated command (not, however, from the alliance itself – a common misconception) and asked all US forces stationed in France to leave. In response, the US secretary of state, Dean Rusk, asked de Gaulle: “Does that include the dead Americans in military cemeteries as well?”
In a single weekend, JD Vance’s direct attacks on European democracy at the Munich Security Conference and his meeting with far-right, anti-European political forces in Germany, have given de Gaulle his historic vindication.
There are some things that you avoid saying for as long as you can, for fear that just uttering the words will help bring them into being.
It already has. Russia and US are deciding the terms as we speak. Europe is going to be left to hang, and it's pretty clear from the speech Vance gave that the bromance between US and Europe is now over.
No, Trump has asked Europe for something, and Europe has given no indication whatsoever that they will go along with it. Indeed, in the only meeting that the major European militaries had together to discuss it, it became pretty apparent that most of them were not on board.
Anyhow, I, like you, will announce that I already won our debate without waiting for your reply.
Last I checked, Europe wasn't invited to the talks. Also Trump isn't asking Europe, he's telling Europe how it's going to be. Europe on its own can't keep the war going, and European militaries are a joke. If you still don't understand this, then just wait and see what happens. You can announce whatever nonsense you like, but reality will asset itself in the near future. One of us will be right and the other will be wrong.
The EU will capitulate to keep the US military in the EU. To be candid, I think the USA is an evil empire, but I'm more afraid for the world if the chauvanist Europeans ever had strong militaries again. Their whole culture is based on colonialism and exploitation. A weak europe is good for the world.
Once the current tantrum ends, that's what I expect will happen as well because they frankly have no other choice now. That said though, it's not at all clear that the US will stay even if Europe begs them too.