The war in Ukraine has shifted thinking — both among politicians and the public — on the need to spend more on defense.

The war in Ukraine has shifted thinking — both among politicians and the public — on the need to spend more on defense.

The European public and politicians are in agreement that EU countries should do more to increase weapons production.

That’s according to the results of the latest Eurobarometer poll, obtained in advance by POLITICO Playbook, and a draft of the EU’s Strategic Agenda seen by POLITICO.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago has dramatically shifted the rhetoric around defense spending, pushing it up the agenda across the bloc — often at the expense of other policy areas like tackling climate change.

  • Chainweasel@lemmy.worldEnglish
    483·
    6 months ago

    It would be stupid not to.
    Not only is there absolutely no guarantee the United States will be there to help them, but if a certain candidate wins, it’s a guarantee we won’t be helping them.
    But beyond that it’s an incredibly stupid idea to outsource your national defense, even to an ally.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.worldMEnglish
      14·
      6 months ago

      I think we almost certainly won’t help them since Trump loves Putin and wants to pull out of NATO.

      • Chainweasel@lemmy.worldEnglish
        161·
        6 months ago

        We is the United States in this context. Not you or I, but the nation I’m part of and pay taxes to. And the majority of those taxes go to the military industrial complex.
        So even though I don’t make any of the decisions and I personally don’t agree with many of them, I still have to help pay for it whether I like it or not.
        So, I’m reluctantly part of the “we”.

        • fed0sine@lemm.eeEnglish
          38·
          6 months ago

          Hey, uhhh, this sounds an awful lot like taxation without representation.

          • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
            6·
            6 months ago

            Oh there’s representation, but it’s been co-opted by corporations paying for it, and the people are willing to accept that, either because they actually believe the propaganda, or since most people don’t vote, via sheer apathy.