The Sum of All Fears: Trump will announce a U.S.arms embargo on Ukraine,

[Dynamic Unicorn]

60. With this further clarification, I think you and I agree on these issues.

We both agree that Europe needs to increase defense spending so it can be autonomous without the US. Many EU nations have already started to do so and I believe will continue to increase defense spending in the short term. I see this as a positive thing.

We also agree on the crazy pricing of US supplied arms. The defense industry mirrors the healthcare industry in the US. A fighter plane cost over $100 million dollars to produce, and that doesn’t count any of the operating expenses! The costs are artificially inflated.

I do understand the difference between total defense expenditure and direct contribution to the NATO budget. My point has been that NATO isn’t fighting and winning wars on their “budget.” That budget is for direct NATO expenses, and the yearly budget probably wouldn't cover a month of Ukraine war spending.

Having said all that, I would like to thank you for your well written counterpoints. Your post reads as a discussion instead of an argument, and I appreciate the objectivity. Thank you.