Good that Trump’s security strategy scared Europe, David Petraeus says
Gen. David Petraeus, Former CIA Director, Fmr. Central Commander and American commander in Iraq.
Adam Jeffery | CNBC
The White House’s new national security strategy gave Europe a scare last week as it warned the region faced “civilizational erasure” and questioned whether it could remain a geopolitical partner for America.
The document shocked allies on the continent as it criticized its leaders as “weak” and slammed the region’s stance on immigration, democracy, freedom of speech, while adding its waning economic and military power was waning.
“It is far from obvious whether certain European countries will have economies and militaries strong enough to remain reliable allies,” it said, adding that the region suffered from a lack of self-confidence. The document also called for the U.S. to re-establish “strategic stability” with Russia, despite its war against Ukraine.
But David Petraeus, the former CIA Director and four-star US Army general, told CNBC it was no bad thing for European nations to get a wake-up call to look after their defense and security.
The strategy was, “in a way, going after the Europeans but, frankly, some of the Europeans needed to be gotten after because I watched as four different presidents tried to exhort the Europeans to do more for their own defence and now that’s actually happening,” he told CNBC’s Dan Murphy in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
Petraeus said President Donald Trump had been “very, very substantial” in getting the Europeans to spend more on defense.
“He’s gotten them to commit to what they should have done years ago,” Petraeus said. He pointed to European members of NATO agreeing earlier this year to increase defense spending to 5% of their gross domestic product, after sustained pressure from the Trump administration.
‘Putin is not going to budge’
Petraeus’ comments come as diplomatic efforts continue to end the war in Ukraine, with U.S. officials holding talks regarding peace proposals with Russian and Ukrainian counterparts in recent weeks.
Both Russia and Ukraine, and its European allies, have promoted different peace plans with contradictory demands and “red lines.” The biggest obstacles to peace remain disagreements over post-war security guarantees for Ukraine and Russian demands that Kyiv cede the eastern region of Donbas.
Washington is reportedly urging both sides to come to an agreement before Christmas, but there is also skepticism that this is possible. Russia, meanwhile, appears to be enjoying the increasing pressure that Europe and Ukraine are coming under from Washington.
Petraeus said he had little faith that Russia could compromise over a peace plan with Putin showing little sign of compromise over war objectives such as territorial control, regime change, and a “demilitarized” Ukraine with no prospect of NATO membership.
“I’m encouraged that there is an effort spurred by the United States and backed by President Trump, personally, in many respects, and his direct negotiators to try to bring the war…
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