I think President Macron has a valid point and I doubt it is all financial. President Trump has demonstrated a hostile attitude regarding NATO while illegally embracing Russia. I think Europe will find developing it’s own military industrial complex will be a lucrative venture with many benefits including strengthening national security and the overall GDP of Europe. Great Britain and France are two permanent members of the UN Security Council. 

I don’t believe the USA has the strong moral commitment to allies it once had. There is also the issue of acting effectively, in the case of the migrants from the Northern Triad, to US aid and supporting asylum when that aid is slow in arriving.

There are problems with the chumminess of Trump and Putin. Russia is becoming more aggressive in regard to NATO. There cannot be another demise of Europe and the disrespect Trump shows regularly to European leaders is counter to good and productive relationships. 

Europe has gained good allies in the Post Soviet States since the inception of NATO. They are developing their economies as quickly as they can, but, they also have great military minds that understand the dangers of communism vs. democracy and they have no will to go back to practing communism. I also believe Russia is completely undependable as an economic or military partner. Treaties mean nothing to them. Russia breaks treaties as quickly as it makes them when it discovers it will not serve as a method to end great democracies. 

There is also the issue of China. Recently the former US Treasury Secretary, Henry Paulson wrote an article stating while Goldman was the first investment firm to make development important in China, things were changing and he was experiencing a less enthusiastic welcome.

I think Europe has to reassess its place in the world and reassert it’s prowess and morality. There is nothing lost with a stronger military with a sovereign Europe, especially with the consolidated nations of the European Union. I hate the thought, but, the facts before all of us gets more real everyday.