„I think it is valid. I know that at the moment, the messages from the White House are sometimes confusing, but I am confident because Congress supports NATO. The Americans support their allies in Europe,“ the retired general told LRT television.
„Undoubtedly, every administration will demand that our allies contribute more to collective security. Not everything has to be provided by the US, and of course, we don't face this problem in Lithuania, Poland, Latvia, or Estonia. These countries are contributing, but this is not the case in the rest of Europe“, he added.
Hodges said the rest of Europe should also devote more attention and finance to defence to secure US support.
Susiję straipsniai
„There will be this pressure from the administration on allies to contribute more. But even if they don't, even if they don't, our interest is a stable and secure Europe; that's important to us“, the officer said.
Recently, statements made by Donald Trump on his return to the White House have called into question the US commitment to security in Europe. The US leader has repeatedly stressed that if European countries do not devote sufficient attention and finances to defence and security, the United States could withdraw from NATO. Mr Trump demands that each member state spend 5% of its GDP on defence.
Lithuania currently spends 4% of its GDP on defence, and the National Defence Council (VGT) proposes to increase this figure to 5–6% of GDP from next year.