US‑Europe ties at risk: General warns against policy shift
If the USA were to turn away from Europe, it would be a "catastrophic mistake," said American General Ben Hodges to the German newspaper "Bild" in the context of President Donald Trump's policy. According to the military official, Ukraine will continue to fight, even without support from the USA.
What do you need to know?
- General Ben Hodges believes that the USA turning away from Europe would be a "catastrophic mistake." He emphasises that the United States needs allies from Europe, Canada, and Australia.
- President Trump's policy is moving towards reducing the USA's involvement in Europe, which could damage the United States' credibility.
- Ukraine will continue to fight for its survival, regardless of US support, and Europe may be forced to support this country on its own.
The US president no longer demands a ceasefire from the Kremlin or threatens sanctions. Instead, the aggressor Russia and the victim of the war, Ukraine, should negotiate peace themselves. Trump is increasingly turning away from Europe, writes the "Bild" portal. Retired American General Ben Hodges, former commander of US forces in Europe, believes this is a serious mistake.
If the USA indeed completely withdraws support for Ukraine, it will be "a humiliation for the United States and this government," Hodges said in an interview with "Bild" on Friday. In his view, after loud assurances that the problem could be solved in 24 hours, "this failure will seriously damage the credibility of this president and government."
America does not support Ukraine out of the kindness of its heart. "It's about protecting American strategic interests. Our economy, our prosperity is directly tied to Europe's prosperity," the military official noted.
The US move could be "catastrophic"
The US turning away from Europe would be a "catastrophic mistake," Hodges said. "America cannot do everything alone, even with its gigantic defence budget. We need allies, and our best and most reliable allies come from Europe, Canada, and Australia," he stated.
"If the United States turns and says, 'Hey, Europe, this is your problem,' I think it would be a real betrayal of our allies who have stood by us for decades," Ben Hodges emphasised.
If the United States turns away from Ukraine, Europe will have to support that country on its own. Hodges is confident: Europeans can do it.
The experienced military official now calls on Germany to take a leading role. As the largest and most powerful economy, Germany must naturally take the initiative. "And I think other European countries are waiting to see if Germany can set a good example," he said.
"Russia's goal is to break NATO"
According to the American, Ukraine will continue to fight - regardless of whether it is supported by the Americans or not. "They have to do it because the nation's survival is at stake," he argued.
For Hodges, it is also clear that Putin will not end the war. Russia never changed its war goals. It is still about destroying Ukraine and the idea of Ukraine as a state," the expert said.
But Putin's plans are even bigger according to Hodges. "Russia's goal is to break NATO - not to conquer the entire European continent, but to break NATO. They will achieve this by attacking a NATO member country to see if we will all respond appropriately. And if not, I think it will be the end of the alliance," the general said.
