Summary
EU industry chief Stéphane Séjourné warned Donald Trump that Europe cannot meet increased NATO defense spending targets, potentially exceeding 3% of GDP, if a trade war ensues.
Trump has long pushed NATO allies to contribute more, recently suggesting a steep 5% target, which many, including Germany and Italy, deem unrealistic.
Séjourné emphasized that national budgets strained by trade conflicts would hinder defense investments.
Trump’s protectionist measures, including potential universal tariffs and criticism of EU trade practices, further complicate Europe’s ability to balance defense and economic priorities.
How long is it gonna take for European leaders to understand, again, that he is the Manchurian Candidate, and harming NATO’s efficacy and credibility is part of the intent?
It’s still possible to trap him in his own words though. He hates to look foolish (as ironic as that may be). Trump has repeatedly demanded that Europe, and every other NATO nation increase their defence spending. This forces him to either back off on the tariffs or back off on that demand. It’s a smart play under the circumstances.
You’re under the mistaken apprehension that Trump cares about logical inconsistency. He does not.
Trump cares very deeply about seeming to never be wrong. This man once sharpie’d in a new path for a hurricane on an official prediction chart.
He’s not some eldritch being of unknowable power. He has buttons and they can be pushed. He is, in fact, shockingly easy to manipulate, and this is a smart manipulation.
