Trump, NATO, and What’s Really Going On With Defense Spending
The U.S. Spends the Most on the Military; By Far
Recently, Donald Trump spoke again about how the United States pays more than its fair share for NATO. He said the U.S. military is the best in the world and that no one comes close.
This is mostly true. The U.S. spent nearly $1 trillion on its military in 2024. That’s about two-thirds of NATO’s entire defense budget. In fact, America spends more than the next ten countries combined when it comes to defense.
Conflicts Around the World That Hardly Get Mentioned
Trump also said he helped bring peace to places like India and Pakistan, and countries in Africa like Rwanda and Congo, but no one gave him credit.
He may be exaggerating, but he does have a point: many of these serious conflicts don’t get much attention. As I said in the video:
“You don’t see people flying the Rwanda flag on their profile.”
It’s a reminder that we often focus on some global issues and ignore others.
Will the U.S. Really Pull Troops Out of Europe? Not Likely
Some people are worried Trump might remove American soldiers from Europe if he becomes president again. I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Here’s why:
There are over 84,000 U.S. military members in Europe.
With their families, that’s more than 200,000 people.
Most U.S. military bases in Europe are there for the long run and are very important.
Moving all those people would be a massive, expensive job. And U.S. bases back home are already full.
So the idea that Trump will pull everyone out? I’d say the chances are almost zero.
Canada Signs a New Defense Deal With the EU
Canada recently signed a new defense agreement with the European Union. It was led by former central bank head Mark Carney.
This shows that Canada and Europe may not fully trust the U.S. anymore, especially if Trump returns to power. The deal is about:
Working together on defense.
Supporting Ukraine with military help.
Becoming less dependent on the U.S. for security.
But one thing stood out to me: no one really talked about helping Ukrainian civilians. It was more about weapons and money.
Defense Deals Often Come Down to Money
Let’s be honest. These defense deals often aren’t just about safety. They’re about business.
Canada’s deal will likely:
Help companies that make military equipment.
Create more defense-related jobs
Bring in money for the military industry.
It’s the same in Europe. Countries are spending more on defense, but not just to protect themselves also to boost their economies.
“It’s always the same thing. Military equipment. It’s all about money.”
Europe Is Fighting With Itself Over €150 Billion
Here’s something surprising: The European Parliament is suing the European Commission basically, Europe is suing itself.
Why? There’s a plan to spend €150 billion on defense loans, but not everyone agrees on how it’s being done. Some leaders want more transparency and accountability.
As I said:
“This is a rabbit hole… Money here, money there… it’s wild.”
I’ll be digging into this more in an upcoming video.
Gold Prices Are Rising But Not the Same Everywhere
One last thing: Gold prices have gone way up.
In the U.S., gold is up 43.5% this year.
In Europe and the UK, it’s only up about 33%.
That’s because the U.S. dollar is losing value faster than the euro or the pound. When paper money weakens, gold usually goes up. That’s why I suggest holding physical gold as a way to protect your money.
Final Thoughts
The world is changing fast. Between Trump’s NATO talk, Canada’s new defense deal, and big money moves in Europe, it’s clear:
If you want to understand what’s really going on follow the money.
Thanks for reading. If this helped you see things more clearly, check out my other videos and programs. I’ll be covering the EU’s financial plans and much more very soon.
Quick Recap:
The U.S. spends more on NATO than any other country by a huge margin.
Trump says he helped with peace in lesser-known conflicts, and he might have a point.
A full U.S. troop pullout from Europe is very unlikely.
Canada’s new deal with the EU shows less trust in the U.S.
Europe is in a legal fight over how to spend €150 billion on defense.
Gold is going up, especially in the U.S. a sign of deeper money problems.