Conscience over money

It would not be surprising if this were the now famous strategy of stupefaction that Trump systematically uses with maximalist, rude and bully positions to achieve the objectives he really pursues.

In reality, there are many economic interests between the United States and the European Union that attract the unscrupulous magnate who has taken it upon himself to be the world's sheriff and impose his rules. At the moment, his real enemy for world hegemony is China and Trump needs to have all possible resources available for the Asia-Pacific region and for Europeans to manage without so much tutelage from Washington.

There is talk of 800 billion euros over four years, but defence and security is not just a question of money to be spent, but rather an investment. It is about concepts, principles, values and strategies that need to be preserved and guarantee the stability that allows progress, development and the welfare state.


But that costs and that is what Europe has had since the Second World War, but with the backing of big brother America with defence budgets every year in excess of 500 billion dollars and has had it for many years to respond to a whole strategy and model perfectly assumed and endorsed by its citizens. Including the dead and wounded. It is true that as well as controlling the world, the United States had its profitability, but the crises have taken their toll.

We Europeans are now facing a profound change in the welfare state that we enjoy with effort, but which is limited. This does not mean that Europeans have not paid attention to their security and defence, but far from the extent necessary to have the operational and deterrent capacity to make those like Putin who have expansionist ambitions think twice, not only in Europe, but now for example in Africa, because they would face a force at least as powerful as them or more.

Now, without the Americans, this is not the case and decisions have to be made on the fly that are essential but that will be doomed to failure if they are not accompanied by decisions on concepts and strategies that permeate society. Citizens must be made aware of the true reality and of the efforts and sacrifices that must be made.

Freedom and democracy without security are not viable. From the Eurocorps to the European Army is at least 10 years away.