Defense Priorities Defense Priorities
  • Policy Topics
    • Venezuela
    • China
    • Israel-Hamas
    • Ukraine-Russia
    • NATO
    • Syria
  • Analysis
    • Research
    • Q&A
  • Programs
    • Grand Strategy Program
    • Military Analysis Program
    • Asia Program
    • Middle East Program
  • Experts
  • Events
  • Media
  • About
    • Mission & Vision
    • People
    • Jobs
    • Contact
  • Donate
Select Page
Home / NATO / Should America let Europe defend itself?
NATO

July 10, 2024

Should America let Europe defend itself?

Benjamin Friedman, policy director at Defense Priorities, argues that the United States should immediately begin withdrawing military forces from Europe to set the stage for European defense autonomy. He discusses the history of NATO, how it’s strategic purposes have evolved over time, what NATO costs America, defensibility problems with some Eastern European members, institutional inertia, differing threat assessments of Russia, and burden-sharing vs burden-dropping, among other topics.

Show Notes

  • Benjamin Friedman, “A New NATO Agenda: Less U.S., Less Dependency,” Defense Priorities, July 8, 2024.

Read at CATO's Power Problems podcast

Featuring

Photo of Benjamin Friedman

Benjamin
Friedman

Policy Director

Defense Priorities

More on Europe

ReportUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

An armed nonalignment model for Ukraine’s postwar security

By Jennifer Kavanagh

December 15, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Europe is betraying Ukraine by pretending it can still win

By Daniel DePetris

December 9, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Three months, two thousand meters: a snapshot of the War in Ukraine

By Gil Barndollar

December 3, 2025

op-edRussia, Europe and Eurasia, Ukraine, Ukraine‑Russia

Moscow talks expose the fantasy of a fair peace deal

By Jennifer Kavanagh

December 3, 2025

op-edUkraine‑Russia, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

The Trump administration’s proposal for the war in Ukraine is its latest half-baked plan

By Daniel DePetris

November 25, 2025

Sanctions, Ukraine‑Russia

Do oil sanctions still work?

By Rosemary Kelanic

November 24, 2025

Events on NATO

See All Events
virtualNATO, Alliances, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine, Ukraine‑Russia

A ‘bridge’ to NATO or false hope for Ukraine?

July 12, 2024
virtualNATO, Alliances, Deterrence, Europe and Eurasia, Nuclear weapons

New York for Paris? NATO and extended deterrence in a new nuclear age

July 2, 2024
virtualNATO, Europe and Eurasia, Russia, Ukraine

Reexamining the U.S. role in European security

May 3, 2024

Receive expert foreign policy analysis

Join the hub of realism and restraint

Expert updates and analysis to enhance your understanding of vital U.S. national security issues

Defense Priority Mono Logo

Our mission is to inform citizens, thought leaders, and policymakers of the importance of a strong, dynamic military—used more judiciously to protect America’s narrowly defined national interests—and promote a realistic grand strategy prioritizing restraint, diplomacy, and free trade to ensure U.S. security.

  • Research
  • Experts
  • About
  • For Media
  • Jobs
  • Donate
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact
© 2025 Defense Priorities All Right Reserved