All of a sudden Europe is concerned about Russia and especially Ukraine. The nervous nellies are thinking that their nemesis Trump might just win the election this fall thus the U.S. might not be as willing to step up and bail them out like last century. Just in case Putin decides to go big or go home… Putin threatened Nukes. It doesn’t hurt also, that Congress is making it clear that the U.S. is not the endless piggy bank and we are getting cranky about the whole thing.
It doesn’t hurt that Europe’s farmers are not a bit happy in having their farm confiscated or at the least restrictions that insure their bankruptcy. Attention elsewhere never hurts.
They sure laughed last time around with Trump and his advancing theory that Europe might just be on their own… because as he says, they should be.
At the least, the U.S. not contribute the lion share of their defense.
U.S. Paying 68% Percent of NATO, Increased 6 Percent Since 2021
February 28, 2024 — bunkerville
The U.S. is by far the largest contributor to NATO’s budget. In 2023, the country accounted for $860 billion spent by the organization, representing 68% of the total expenditure. This amount is over 10 times more than that of the second-placed country, Germany.
| Country | 2023 Defense Spending (USD, Millions)* |
|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States | $860,000 |
| 🇩🇪 Germany | $68,080 |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | $65,763 |
| 🇫🇷 France | $56,649 |
| 🇮🇹 Italy | $31,585 |
| 🇵🇱 Poland | $29,105 |
| 🇨🇦 Canada | $28,950 |
| 🇪🇸 Spain | $19,179 |
| 🇳🇱 Netherlands | $16,741 |
| 🇹🇷 Türkiye | $15,842 |
| 🇳🇴 Norway | $8,814 |
| 🇷🇴 Romania | $8,481 |
| 🇫🇮 Finland | $7,325 |
| 🇬🇷 Greece | $7,125 |
| 🇧🇪 Belgium | $7,076 |
| 🇩🇰 Denmark | $6,775 |
| 🇭🇺 Hungary | $5,036 |
| 🇨🇿 Czechia | $5,033 |
| 🇵🇹 Portugal | $4,167 |
| 🌐 Other | $12,400 |
*Expected spending in 2023, based on July 2023 data from NATO.
Who knew? None of the press here in the States are reporting what’s going on. Only the foreign press.
Here are a couple of clips…
Hindustan Times: March 14, 2024
Then we have DW News- German Public Broadcasting Service
Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė was in Berlin Thursday for defense and security talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Support for Ukraine’s war with Russia and German plans to station troops in Lithuania were on the agenda. After the meeting DW News spoke to Prime Minister Lithuanian Šimonytė.
Three weeks ago, The Guardian news out of Great Britain:
Four western leaders – the European Commission president and the prime ministers of Italy, Canada and Belgium, arrived in Kyiv on Saturday to show solidarity with Ukraine on the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
Ursula von der Leyen, Giorgia Meloni, Justin Trudeau and Alexander De Croo travelled to the Ukrainian capital together overnight by train from neighbouring Poland, the Italian government said in a statement.
Two weeks ago, – that should do it… Opec watch out . All those Euros can be confiscated anytime politics deem fit. Wreck the Euro..just like Biden wants to do to the dollar here in the States.
Just like Biden wants to do here with confiscating Russia’s stuff too.
Biden’s Plan to Fund Ukraine – Confiscate Russia’s Sovereign Assets
January 11, 2024 — bunkerville
Let me cut to the chase: “There has also been concern among some top American officials that nations around the world would hesitate to keep their funds at the New York Federal Reserve, or in dollars, if the United States established a precedent for seizing the money.”
We are not talking freezing assets, but rather confiscating them. Something third world countries have done. The U.S. has never done this before.
The De-dollarization of the dollar could likely be the result if countries lose faith in the security of their funds. One step closer losing the dollar as the world’s currency.
Well, if all else fails, we have Canada with some good ideas too….this should lower the temperature.
Global News:
By now you have the drift. More countries are considering sending troops, if not to Ukraine, into the surrounding countries.
Well played Orange Man.
BUNKERVILLE | God, Guns and Guts Comrades! 