Michael Waltz, national security adviser to Donald Trump, stated that the United States can no longer shoulder the burden of defending all of Europe due to its $33 trillion national debt.
However, he emphasized that the U.S. would maintain a tailored approach for nations in Eastern Europe.
“We must distinguish our Eastern European allies such as Poland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and others,” Waltz noted.
This perspective comes as European leaders increasingly call for greater self-reliance in defense. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently remarked that the EU anticipates the U.S. will redirect some of its military attention away from Europe to other global regions.
Speaking from Brussels, she underlined the urgency for Europe to enhance its own defense capabilities in a “fragile world.”
Von der Leyen has unveiled a strategy to rearm the continent, aiming to mobilize up to €800 billion for defense initiatives by 2030. This includes €150 billion in loans and the participation of private investors.
Her proposal also includes easing EU budgetary restrictions to facilitate increased military expenditures and scaling up weapons manufacturing across member states.
