Rep. Sara Jacobs Questions DoD Official on EU's Formation and US Strategy

Questioning the EU's Formation and Purpose

• ❓ Representative Sara Jacobs directly asked Assistant Secretary Katherine Thompson if the European Union was formed with the intent to harm America.
• 🗣️ Thompson stated that she does not believe the EU was formed to hurt America.
• 🇺🇸 Jacobs referenced President Biden's public statement that the EU was formed to "screw the United States" and his comments on potentially taking Greenland from Denmark.

US Strategy and European Allies

• 🤝 Thompson emphasized that the US approach to allies is based on honesty and encouraging them to step up their contributions.
• 🇺🇦 She highlighted the administration's priority for European allies to reach 5% of GDP on security assistance to Ukraine.
• 🇩🇰 The US maintains a robust security relationship with Denmark, recognizing Greenland's critical importance for homeland defense.

NATO Contributions and Spending Thresholds

• 💰 Jacobs questioned the characterization of allies as "free riders" given that Europe pays 84% of NATO's infrastructure at US bases and Poland spends over $300 million annually to support US troops.
• 📊 Thompson clarified that the "free rider" commentary stems from chronic underspending below the 2% of GDP threshold for defense, a commitment made in a less secure environment.
• 📈 She noted that the current security environment demands more than the 2% threshold, and it's encouraging that allies are now exceeding it and aiming for higher contributions.

Impact of Rhetoric on Allied Trust

• 🛡️ General Kavoli stated that discussions about US leaders suggesting the EU is formed to "screw" allies or calling them "free riders" are outside his military lane.
• 🤝 He affirmed that military-to-military relationships with European chiefs of defense remain strong and solid.
• ❓ Kavoli could not recall specific instances where President Trump's comments about the EU or Greenland had come up in conversations with other military leaders, as military personnel focus on the military construct.