James O'Byrne on EU Military Spending Increase
James O'Byrne
EU Military Spending Increase
Claims and stances
Transcript
- 0:00 The European Union historically has relied heavily on the NATO allies such as America and Canada for large and and vast uh military aid.
- 0:15 But ever since the invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February of 2022, the EU has seen a stark increase in military spending.
- 0:26 Um since the invasion uh of Ukraine by Russia, in about two to three years, the EU has spent has uh increased their spending uh per um on their military by about one to two percent more of their GDP, uh which is a substantial increase, um, which totals about a 30% increase um of total spending um across the entire uh continent.
- 0:53 And you know, this is obviously due to the threat posed by Russia, but also just for general security uh measures.
- 1:01 Um the EU has and relied too long on uh NATO and um NATO's allies for military support.
- 1:09 And before Trump's presidency and um during his campaign, he campaigned heavily on getting Europe to pay their fair share for the military, uh, which you know and makes makes sense um because um to be fair, America has helped Europe, the European continent, especially all all the uh NATO allies substantially um in uh world war in the previous world war.
- 1:37 So um, you know, with another threat being posed by Russia, it only makes sense that the EU bolsters security measures uh and improves funding in their um in their military.
- 1:50 Um and this is just will safeguard the future for Europe because if more countries are sp are increasing their expenditures on um on military, this means that there's a gonna be a um a smaller reliance on the United States and uh and a uh uh a greater fortified secure Europe.