As Americans commemorate 80 years since victory over Nazi Germany, many are questioning why U.S. taxpayers continue funding European defense while our allies refuse to shoulder their fair share of the burden.

At a Glance

• May 8, 2025, marks the 80th anniversary of Allied victory in Europe, yet U.S. taxpayers still bear the primary financial burden for European defense
• Many NATO countries consistently fail to meet the alliance’s 2% GDP defense spending target while relying on American protection
• Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine exposed critical weaknesses in European defense capabilities and varying levels of commitment among EU nations
• Vice President J.D. Vance has expressed concerns about internal threats to European democracy despite continued U.S. support
• Experts argue Europe must develop greater self-reliance in defense to ensure its long-term security

Eight Decades of American Support

The U.S. commitment to European security began even before America’s official entry into World War II through programs like Lend-Lease and continued through the Marshall Plan’s massive economic aid for rebuilding war-torn Europe. American military presence and industrial might proved decisive in the Allied victory of 1945. Following the war, the U.S. maintained substantial forces across Europe to counter Soviet communism while investing billions in European reconstruction and development. This arrangement created stability but also fostered European dependence on American security guarantees that continues today.

After eight decades of substantial American investment in European defense and economic stability, many conservative analysts question whether Europe has upheld its end of the transatlantic partnership. While the European Union has grown into an economic powerhouse, its military capabilities remain limited, with many NATO members failing to meet the alliance’s minimum defense spending targets. This imbalance has become increasingly difficult to justify to American taxpayers, especially as Europe pursues policies that sometimes appear at odds with traditional American values.

NATO’s Unbalanced Burden

The disparity in defense spending between the United States and its European allies has been a persistent point of contention within NATO. Despite agreeing to a defense spending target of 2% of GDP, many European nations consistently fall short of this commitment. The U.S. has provided the bulk of NATO’s military capabilities and leadership, with American taxpayers effectively subsidizing European security. This arrangement became particularly stark following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, when the United States quickly became the leading provider of military aid to Kyiv.

“While the Trump administration is very concerned with European security and believes that we can come to a reasonable settlement between Russia and Ukraine, the threat that I worry the most about vis-a-vis Europe … is the threat from within.”, said Vice President J.D. Vance

The Ukrainian crisis exposed significant divides within Europe’s security approach. According to analysis from the German Council on Foreign Relations, European nations exhibited widely varying threat perceptions and defense responses to Russia’s aggression. Some countries, particularly those in Eastern Europe, had long warned about the Russian threat and invested accordingly. Others, especially in Western Europe, were caught unprepared. This fractured response revealed the lack of a unified European defense strategy.

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— Policy Tensor (@policytensor) May 2, 2025

 

Europe’s Internal Challenges

Beyond external threats, Vice President Vance has highlighted concerns about internal developments within European democracies. Pointing to examples like the UK’s controversial “online safety” laws and Germany’s approach to opposition parties, some American officials question whether continued U.S. support is being used effectively to promote shared democratic values. These concerns extend to broader issues of migration policy, crime management, and free speech protections across the continent.

“For years, we’ve been told that everything we fund and support is in the name of our shared democracy values. Everything from our Ukraine policy to digital censorship is billed as a defense of democracy, but when we see European courts canceling elections and senior officials threatening to cancel others, we ought to ask whether we’re holding ourselves to an appropriately high standard.”, added J.D. Vance.

The Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) has noted a fundamental shift in European security thinking, with a report stating bluntly: “Strategic autonomy is dead: Russia’s war in Ukraine has underscored Europe’s humbling dependence on the United States for defense and security.” This admission reflects growing recognition among European security experts that the continent must develop greater self-reliance rather than depending indefinitely on American protection and subsidies.

A Path Forward: European Self-Reliance

As we mark eight decades since the Allied victory that liberated Europe, a recalibration of the transatlantic relationship appears increasingly necessary. Europe must take greater responsibility for its own security by meeting NATO defense spending commitments, developing indigenous military capabilities, and addressing internal challenges to democratic governance. American support should incentivize European self-reliance rather than perpetuating dependence. This approach would better serve both American taxpayers and long-term European security interests.

While NATO remains vital to transatlantic security, experts suggest a more balanced partnership is needed. As CEPA notes, “NATO and the EU need better coordination, not necessarily increased cooperation. They are sometimes stronger when they ‘stick to their own swim lanes.'” This perspective recognizes that Europe must develop complementary capabilities rather than duplicating American efforts, allowing for a more equitable division of security responsibilities that reduces the burden on U.S. taxpayers while strengthening overall Western defense.

The 80th anniversary of victory in Europe provides an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable success of American support in rebuilding a war-torn continent. However, it also serves as an appropriate moment to consider how this relationship should evolve to meet 21st century challenges. For the next eight decades of the transatlantic partnership to succeed, Europe must embrace greater self-reliance while America encourages its allies to stand on their own feet—honoring the sacrifices of the Greatest Generation by building a more balanced alliance for the future.