“If you think we should do it let’s go. I just hate bailing Europe out again,” Vance replied. Hegseth agreed that “I fully share your loathing of European free-loading. It’s PATHETIC.” But, he added, “we are the only ones on the planet (on our side of the ledger) who can do this.”

Miller, the Trump confidant, effectively ended the conversation by saying that the president had been clear. “Green light, but we soon make clear to Egypt and Europe what we expect in return.”

Edit: The texts are released to public

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Damage@feddit.it 81 points 5 months ago (23 children)

“I think we are making a mistake,” wrote Vance, adding that while only 3% of US trade goes through the Suez canal, 40% of European trade does. “There is a real risk that the public doesn’t understand this or why it’s necessary,” he added. “The strongest reason to do this is, as [Trump] said, to send a message."
Vance was contending that once again the United States is doing what Europe should be.

Houthis wouldn't be attacking ships if it weren't for the US' meddling in the Middle East.

Waltz, a foreign policy traditionalist, said: “It will have to be the United States that reopens these shipping lanes.” But he agreed that the administration sought to “compile the cost associated and levy them on the Europeans”.

Maybe we should levy on the US the costs of the multiple refugee crises they have caused in our neighborhood

[–] nuko147@lemm.ee 35 points 5 months ago (16 children)

It's Europeans fault too. For too long we followed the same line with USA on the middle east crisis, and many have no problem with the genocide that is on the work there. The neighbourhood of Europe (and now even part of it) is unstable from poverty and war, and we were fine with that.

[–] RedSnt@feddit.dk 2 points 5 months ago (1 children)

Article 5 proved to be a bit of a trap card, because that's the reason Europe was dragged into the post 9/11 middle eastern wars, but I guess European NATO countries could've just ignored it or whatever.

[–] nuko147@lemm.ee 8 points 5 months ago

Only in Afghanistan was called. After 9/11. All others were voluntary. Also France, Germany and UK played a key role to many shitty things. They are not innocent but idiots who never saw the big picture.

load more comments (14 replies)

load more comments (20 replies)