The US Just Bitch Slapped Europe, by Scipio

Over a 48-hour period in two European locations, Brussels, and Munich, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth just handed Europe their head on a platter.  In Trump parlance they said, “You’re Fired!” The days of the US being dragged into Continental disputes and providing her security are over.  There is a new sheriff in town.

Secretary Hegseth spoke February 12, 2015 at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Belgium. He read them the riot act:

1. The Ukrainian War would be ended diplomatically, not militarily. (Europe wanted to destroy Russia militarily.)
2. Ukraine will not be going back to her pre-war border. (In recognition of one of Russia’s four objectives for ending the SMO (Special Military Operation.)
3. There would be no NATO membership for Ukraine. (A recognition of another of Russia’s four objectives for ending the SMO.)
4. Europe, not the US, will be providing the bulk of military aid to Ukraine (Europe wanted American to continue providing billions in military aid.)
5. Whatever agreement Europe worked out for post-war Ukraine; it would not be Minsk 3.0 (Previously there were two Minsk Agreements that were never implemented by the West.)
6. Whatever security guarantees Europe makes for Ukraine it would not include NATO’s Article 5. (An attack on one member triggers a counterattack by all members.)
7. And most devastating, America would no longer be responsible for safeguarding Europe. You are on your own, we are pivoting to Asia.

VP Vance delivered another body blow to European politics two days later February 14, at the Munich Security Conference.  By the time Vance stood up to speak, Hegseth’s previous remarks had filled the hall with a hostile audience.  Steam was already coming out of their ears.  During Vance’s speech they only clapped twice; once at his introduction and a second small applause on his remark about migrants.

1. Vance’s biggest bombshell was dropped at the beginning when he said NATO’s biggest threat was not from abroad (Russia) but from within. Its Europe’s own abandonment of democratic principles that threatens Europe’s security.
2. European courts have no authority to cancel popular elections like in Romania. That is tyranny.
3. Europe has silenced free speech on all social and media platforms and implemented wide spread government censorship. Vance said, “In Britain and across Europe, free speech, I am afraid, is in retreat.”
4. Vance said violence in Europe because of migrants “didn’t materialize in a vacuum. It’s the result of a series of conscious decisions made by politicians.” In other words, European leaders planned this chaos.
5. Vance singled out the EU for suppression of religious freedom, giving an example of the UK arresting a man for praying in public. Also, Scotland even sent letters to citizens warning private prayers in their own homes were subject to fines and arrests. (Keep in mind all this is being done in the context of giving free reign to Islamists in Europe, even having Muslim no-go zones.)
6. Finally, Vance hit them in the pocket book. He said they were going to have to spend more on defense in NATO because the US was decreasing European defense spending.  (I imagine there will be extensive withdrawal of US troops and downsizing of bases in Europe as a result.)

That is what a diplomatic bitch slap looks like.

As an aside, it seems from Hegseth’s comments, Trump is finally seeing Russia’s point of view on Ukraine.  I noticed Trump’s previous idiot envoy to Ukraine, Gen Keith Kellogg (https://www.americanpartisan.org/2024/12/kellogg-is-a-flake-by-scipio/#comments),  will not be part of the Ukrainian negotiating team meeting in Saudi Arabia. Could it be because DOGE’s audit of USAID uncovered Gen. Kellogg’s daughter was the head of an NGO that was given millions of dollars to help Ukraine?