NATO or bust
Good day to each of you reading this column on NATO and the split between the USA and our “allied nations”.
Much has been in the news about NATO, the USA and the talk of the USA leaving NATO. So, what would happen if the USA leaves NATO and where does other countries stand on this issue.
Let’s look at the UK, one of deepest allies, where on November 19, 2025 the headline read that the UK could not defend itself if were attacked.
My oh my, not so long ago, the UK had the strongest navy in the world and due to debt and a much smaller army they are one of the smallest in the world.
The Telegraph, on December 6, 2025 said the Royal Navy is in serious trouble, and the nuclear submarine fleet is nearly extinct. In fact the article said the former head of the Royal Navy was of the opinion that the nuclear submarine fleet is “no longer fit for purpose.”
To make matters worse, the Telegraph on November 19,2025 spoke of a recent terror attack on an RAF base by simply cutting through a perimeter fence which show this country’s lack of readiness in case of an attack.
Also found in the Telegraph on November 19,2025 that the British government received a report accusing them of “failing to meet its NATO Article 3 defense obligations and ‘to maintain and develop individual and collective capacity to resist attack’. The report went on to say that the UK ‘possessed’ next to nothing’ when it came to integrated air and missile defenses and ‘lacks a plan for defending both the homeland as well as overseas territories.
Europe is getting stronger and stronger led by Germany. This is the same country that the USA rebuilt after World War II. Per Reuters: Wed, April 29, 2026 at 7:23 AM EDT
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Wednesday his relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump remained good despite a row between the two men over the Iran war, but he reiterated his worries over the economic impact of the conflict.
The spat reflects diverging views between the Trump administration and its European NATO allies on Iran and other issues, including the Ukraine conflict.
“From my perspective, my personal relationship with the U.S. President remains good. I simply had doubts from the start about what was begun with the war in Iran. That is why I have made that clear,” Merz told reporters.
“In Germany and Europe, we are suffering from the consequences, such as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This has a direct impact on our energy supply and a huge impact on our economic performance,” said Merz, adding that Washington and Berlin were speaking to each other.
On Tuesday, Trump criticized Merz over his stance, saying in a social media post that the German chancellor thought it was “OK” for Iran to have a nuclear weapon and that he didn’t know what he was talking about.
Merz has said Iran must not have a nuclear weapon.
Trump’s comments followed a rebuke to Washington from Merz on Monday, when he said Iran’s leadership was “humiliating” the United States by getting U.S. officials to travel to Pakistan for peace talks and then leaving them without results.
Merz also said he did not see what exit strategy the U.S. was pursuing.
Trump has harshly criticized NATO allies for not sending their navies to help open the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained virtually shut since early March, causing market turmoil and unprecedented disruption in energy supplies.
Despite a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran, the conflict is deadlocked as both sides seek a formal end to the fighting.
32 member states make up NATO while spending $1.6 trillion each year to maintain a state-of-art military forces and 3-4 million soldiers.
NATO, since its inception has become more powerful with superior technology, nuclear arms, integrated command structures and unmatched military interoperability with Germany leading the way.
A good example shows us when President Trump wanted to buy Greenland for U.S. national security and utilize his new Golden Dome missile defense system that both Denmark and Greenland said the country is not for sale.
The distrust between the USA and NATO when President Trump said that he would acquire Greenland the “easy way” or the “hard way”. NATO did not find this amusing and on January 16, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK deployed troops to Greenland to secure the island.
President Trump retaliated by threatening to increase tariffs on the above nations for their actions and in return the EU leaders then threatened $108 billion in retaliatory tariffs.
The conclusion is that the USA and Greenland reached a deal where the US receives joint sovereignty over US military bases and mineral rights.
The former PM of Denmark and secretary general of NATO was quoted in the Financial Times on January 17, 2026, “Since childhood, I have considered the US as the natural leader of the free world. I’ve even spoken about the U.S. as the world’s policeman. … Now we see the US use a language that’s pretty close to the gangsters that they should control in Moscow, Beijing, etc.”
This is how we are viewed by Europe as they are taking dim view of our country and its president. We are seeing a rise in the might of Europe and an awakening per French President Macron who hosted the prime ministers of Denmark and Greenland in Paris on January 28 to discuss European security. Macron said Trump’s comments about Greenland needed to prompt an “awakening” in Europe.
According to Reuters on 5/2/26 Germany says US troop drawdown should spur Europe, but top Republicans worried
By Sabine Siebold and Andreas Rinke
A planned drawdown of 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany should spur Europe to strengthen its own defenses, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Saturday, but two top U.S. Republican lawmakers expressed concern, saying the troops should not leave Europe.
The Pentagon announced the drawdown from Germany, its largest European base, on Friday, as a rift over the Iran war and tariff tensions placed further strain on relations between the U.S. and Europe.
“We Europeans must take on more responsibility for our own security,” Pistorius said, adding, “Germany is on the right track” by expanding its armed forces, speeding up military procurement and building infrastructure.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose country is seeking assurances of continued U.S. support on NATO’s eastern flank amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, also expressed concern about the latest setback to the alliance.
“The greatest threat to the transatlantic community are not its external enemies, but the ongoing disintegration of our alliance. We must all do what it takes to reverse this disastrous trend,” Tusk wrote on X on Saturday.
The Pentagon’s plans were the latest blow to Germany from Washington this weekend, after Trump said he would ratchet up tariffs on EU auto imports to 25%, accusing the EU of not upholding a trade deal – in a move that threatens to cost the German economy billions.
A foreign policy official from Chancellor Merz’s CDU party said the two announcements should be viewed in light of pressure on Trump both at home and abroad, amid weak opinion polling and pressure over unresolved conflicts in Ukraine, Venezuela and Iran.
“Against this backdrop, both the troop withdrawal and the trade policy seem less like the expression of a coherent strategy and more like a political reflex and a reaction born of frustration,” Peter Beyer told Reuters.
NATO members have pledged to take on more responsibility for their own defense but with tight budgets and vast gaps in military capability, it will take years for the region to meet its own security needs.
Germany wants to boost the number of active-duty Bundeswehr soldiers from a current 185,000 to 260,000, though critics of the defense minister have called for more in response to a widely perceived growing threat from Russia.
Europe, led by Germany is building an EU military and Daniel’s vision of the four beasts is beginning to take shape. I am of the belief that Assyria in the Bible is the modern-day Germany.
According to Life, Hope and Truth, https://lifehopeandtruth.com/prophecy/blog/germany-in-prophecy-part-4-the-end-time-rise-and-fall-of-assyria/
Assyria, located east of Israel in present-day Iraq, became a powerful empire from 900 to 600 B.C. It was founded by Asshur, Shem’s second son (Genesis 10:22).
The Hebrew name for Assyria is “Asshur,” which is the same as the name of the progenitor of the nation. Ashur was also the first capital of the Assyrian Empire, its religious center and the name of its chief god.
Another principal city of Assyria, Nimrud, bears a close resemblance to the biblical Nimrod.
Nimrod was renowned as the builder of Babylon, and he is described in the Bible as a “mighty hunter before the LORD” (Genesis 10:8-10). A more accurate translation could be: “a tyrant against the LORD.” The International Standard Version describes him as “a fearless hunter in defiance of the LORD.” The name Nimrod can be translated as “rebel” (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon).
After God confused the languages at the Tower of Babel, the peoples dispersed (Genesis 11:8). Where did Nimrod go? The Bible reveals: “From that land he went to Assyria and built Nineveh” (Genesis 10:11).
Nineveh became the administrative capital of Assyria, where its kings dwelled. This is why Jonah was sent to Nineveh to warn the Assyrian king (Jonah 1:1-2; 3:6). Nahum’s prophecy condemns the city for its wickedness (Nahum 1:1).
From Assyria’s earliest days, two key cities emerged—one religious and one political—founded by men who exalted themselves above God.
The city of Ashur was the spiritual center with its priests, and Nineveh, the political capital with its kings. This union of political and religious power mirrors the end-time alliance described in Revelation, where the beast and the false prophet—two figures who oppose God—join forces in an attempt to deceive and dominate the world (Revelation 16:13; 19:20).
As discussed earlier in this series, Germany—end-time Assyria—is poised to lead the beast (the final revival of the Holy Roman Empire) in alliance with Rome, which will provide its religious authority.
On March 30, 2023, Dutch Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the integration of the Netherlands’ 13 Light Brigade into Germany’s 10 Panzer Division, marking a deeper military collaboration between the two nations.
Have you heard of the following? EUROFOR, or the European Rapid Operational Force, is a multinational rapid reaction force. It was established to enhance the European Union’s military capabilities and is composed of forces from four member states: Italy, France, Portugal, and Spain. The force was officially declared on May 15, 1995, in Lisbon by the foreign and defense ministers of these countries.
As of today, May 5, the latest is that President is withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany per https://www.military.com/us-to-pull-5000-troops-from-germany
The U.S. will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon announced Friday, marking a significant shift in the American military presence in Europe.
Pentagon officials said the decision followed a review of force posture and reflects current operational requirements. The reduction represents roughly 14% of the approximately 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, which has long served as a central hub for American military operations on the continent.
Germany hosts key installations including Ramstein Air Base, a major logistics and command center that supports U.S. and NATO operations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
The U.S. will withdraw about 5,000 troops from Germany over the next six to 12 months, the Pentagon announced Friday, marking a significant shift in the American military presence in Europe.
Pentagon officials said the decision followed a review of force posture and reflects current operational requirements. The reduction represents roughly 14% of the approximately 36,000 U.S. troops stationed in Germany, which has long served as a central hub for American military operations on the continent.
Germany hosts key installations including Ramstein Air Base, a major logistics and command center that supports U.S. and NATO operations across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Tensions with Germany Shape Decision
The announcement comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Berlin, driven in part by sharp criticism from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over the U.S. handling of the Iran conflict. Merz said the United States was being “humiliated” by Iranian leadership and criticized Washington for lacking a clear strategy to resolve the conflict.
He also argued that the United States had “no truly convincing strategy” in its negotiations, underscoring a widening rift between the U.S. and European allies over both the conduct and direction of the war.
U.S. officials viewed the remarks as inappropriate, and a senior Pentagon official said the troop withdrawal reflects, in part, frustration with allied criticism and lack of support for U.S. operations.
President Donald Trump has since suggested the drawdown could go further, indicating the current reduction may be only the first step in a broader reassessment of U.S. troop levels in Europe. Trump also made a post on Truth Social stating “[t]he Chancellor of Germany should spend more time on ending the war with Russia/Ukraine (Where he has been totally ineffective!), and fixing his broken Country, especially Immigration and Energy, and less time on interfering with those that are getting rid of the Iran Nuclear threat, thereby making the World, including Germany, a safer place!”
Allies and NATO Seek Clarity
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the decision was not entirely unexpected but emphasized that U.S. forces in Europe contribute to shared security interests. He also reiterated calls for European nations to take greater responsibility for their own defense capabilities.
Germany is moving forward to implement an EU force to replace the USA and to have the EU completely independent of any US ties.
Before I close, look at: EU Agenda https://euagenda.eu › publications › download
Here is some very interesting information to ponder:
Total Defence Expenditure
In 2024, total defence expenditure by the 27 Member States (MS) reached €343 billion1 and saw a record-breaking increase driven by the shifting security environment and MS’ ongoing commitment to increasing their preparedness (Figure 1). Compared to 2023, defence expenditure increased by 19% and for the tenth consecutive year. This follows a 10% increase in 2023 compared to 2022. As a share of GDP, defence expenditure rose to 1.9% of MS’ GDP, in line with last year’s projections, up from 1.6% in 2023, bringing the bloc closer to NATO’s old guideline of 2% of GDP.
In 2025, it is estimated that total defence expenditure will increase to €381 billion (€392 billion in current prices), bringing the bloc’s spending to 2.1% of GDP and exceeding the previous 2% guideline for the first time since data collection began.
Additionally, the European Commission’s Readiness 2030 initiative launched in March 2025, which envisages the creation of additional fiscal space of up to €800 billion over the next four years, is likely to boost spending beyond what is currently projected. Figure 1. Total Defence Expenditure vs the previous 2% of GDP NATO Guideline 1. In 2024 constant prices. Unless otherwise specified, all figures, both backward- and forward-looking, are expressed in 2024 constant prices. For this reason, figures may differ from those presented in previous editions of the Defence Data brochure. € 400 Bn € 350 Bn € 300 Bn € 250 Bn € 200 Bn € 150 Bn 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
Despite the continued effort of EU MS to increase preparedness and bolster their armed forces’ fighting capabilities, other major international powers, particularly the US, score higher on total defence expenditure. Since 2008, the US has consistently allocated more than 3% of GDP to defence. In 2024, US defence expenditure amounted to €845 billion 4/5 (in current prices) or 3.1% of GDP, nearly triple EU MS’ aggregated expenditure of €343 billion. Unlike the US, EU MS are not spending their defence budget as a centralized and unified bloc. Defence budgets are decided and allocated by 27 national governments, which may lead to greater fragmentation, duplication of efforts, and reduced efficiency in defence spending. As a result, MS operate a wider variety of weapon systems across key platforms when compared to the US, leading to interoperability issues and consequently making joint operations, logistics, maintenance and training more challenging. The purchase of diverse weapon systems by MS also limits possibilities of economies of scale and weakens collective bargaining power with industry, ultimately driving up unit costs. For example, EU countries possess higher numbers of main battle tanks, artillery systems, and infantry fighting vehicles when compared to the US, but these weapon systems are highly fragmented across different models (Figure 5)6 . In contrast, the US relies on a more limited number of platforms in use, facilitating logistics, training, and operational coordination. Fragmentation is also evident in the naval domain, where MS operate a wide variety of frigates, destroyers, and submarines. At the same time, the EU’s limited fleet of air-to-air tanker aircraft, as well as medium and heavy transport aircraft, highlights persistent shortfalls in strategic air mobility and airlift capabilities when compared to the US. The fragmentation of defence equipment across MS is driven by several factors including MS’ use of Soviet-era systems, unaligned planning cycles and industrial constraints. Collaborative defence planning and procurement, backed by established priorities and financial incentives at EU level, may help address these issues and lower fragmentation in the years to come.
As in previous years, investment in procuring new defence equipment continued to grow in 2024, largely driving the overall increase in defence investment. Spending on defence equipment procurement increased by 39% compared to 2023, with procurement expenditure reaching €88 billion in 2024 (Figure 11). Despite the significant increase in MS’ procurement spending, the growth rate was slightly slower than anticipated in EDA’s 2023-2024 Defence Data brochure. In 2025, the projected expenditure on defence equipment procurement is likely to exceed €100 billion16. Nonetheless, the increase in defence procurement spending will likely continue in the coming years as several MS have announced additional budgetary increases in response to the situation and have signed several major procurement deals in 2024 that will materialize in the coming years. Examples include, among many others, Poland’s acquisition of attack helicopters for around €9 billion, Italy’s €8.5 billion procurement programmed of main battle tanks 17, its acquisition of 24 multirole fighter jets worth €7.47 billion18, Germany’s €4.7 billion deal to procure submarines 19 and Denmark’s and Sweden’s joint procurement of Infantry Fighting Vehicles for roughly €2.3 billion20.
In 2024, EDIRPA provided financial support to MS’ joint procurement projects 21. This includes the procurement of:
- Mistral 3 missiles, led by France in cooperation with Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Hungary, Romania, Spain, Slovenia, and Denmark;
- IRIS-T SLM medium-range air defence systems, bringing together Austria, Bulgaria, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, and Slovenia;
- The Common Armoured Vehicle System (CAVS), by Finland, Latvia, Sweden, and Germany;
- Different types of 155mm artillery ammunition (CPoA 155mm), bringing together the Netherlands, Italy, Poland, Lithuania, Denmark, and Croatia;
- High explosive 155mm artillery ammunition, by Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Estonia.
The five projects are worth more than €11 billion in defence products and each project will be supported with €60 million under EDIRPA.
The substantial increase in defence spending in 2024 and 2025, with the rise in spending likely reaching above 2% of GDP, highlights EU Member States’ efforts to rapidly address the deteriorating strategic environment, enhance their armed forces’ military capabilities and their commitment to collective defence. The fiscal space created by defence spending increases also presents an opportunity to expand the scope of European cooperation and fully exploit new EU defence initiatives – such as Readiness 2030, the SAFE lending scheme, – and ongoing instruments such as the EDF. Such initiatives pave the way for greater efficiency in spending growing defence budgets as well as for enhanced interoperability and standardization.
The marked increase in defence investment, along with the significant rise in per-soldier spending, underscores EU Member States’ growing emphasis on enhancing the quality and readiness of their military personnel. However, the continued reliance on commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) procurement and the fragmentation of weapon systems highlight the pressing need for more coordinated and standardised approaches to defence procurement. In the coming years, greater cooperation and alignment of national planning towards common EU-level objectives will be essential to strengthen the EDTIB. This would enable larger, more predictable orders over longer time horizons, thereby allowing the EU defence industry to secure and scale up production lines.
Meeting the new NATO target of 3.5% of GDP will require even more effort by many Member States, spending a total of more than €630 billion a year.
Fellow Christian, be very aware of Germany and the EU for they are out to dominate us in both the political and economic systems.
The EU is rapidly growing independent of the U.S. for Europe is strengthening its position as a world power as they cozy up to South America (MERCOSUR) and the Asian giants with enhanced trade agreements, join forces in Asia & Europe to combine their merchant fleet & seize control of maritime choke points thus blockading the USA.
I have previously showed you how Europe could strike back and cripple the USA via our debt problem. The world poker game becomes more intense by the day with the Iran war, mass tensions between Europe and the USA, and the very thought the world is uniting against the USA.
I am not hear to scare you, but this is Bible prophecy before our eyes for Iran is the King of the South & Germany may very well be the King of the North as the end of the age may coming to a close.
Nuclear war? Would God allow man to completely destroy himself? No, for God will show Satan who is in charge.
Be sober, be vigilant and watch unto prayer for God will protect his faithful people as shown in Matthew 24 & Revelation 12.
Please read the Bible so you can be enlightened and enriched for the Bible is the final authority on all worldly matters so you can be prepared when Jesus comes and, in my mind, it will be very soon.
