Former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Europe's rearmament is not only about defending against Russia. It is about protecting against the threat from the Chinese Communist Party under Xi Jinping's leadership.
Pompeo made the remarks in an interview with Natalia Moseychuk recorded on the eve of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, "Hvylya" reports.
The former secretary of state criticized France and Germany - Europe's two largest economies - for having "done almost nothing for their defense for 40 years." They relied on the United States as their shield and spent their money on social programs, he said.
However, Pompeo said Europe is now "in a better place." He pointed to innovations in defense, investments in technology companies, and reinvestment in intelligence services. "But there's still a long way to go - Europe did very little for decades," he added.
According to Pompeo, the US demand that Europe do more "put it in a political position where this became possible." He said NATO member commitments have grown from 2 to 5 percent of GDP and called for those resources to be allocated "wisely and efficiently."
"This is critically important not only for the current conflict in Ukraine, but for deterring not just Putin, but Xi Jinping, Kim Jong Un, the Ayatollah - all those who seek to undermine European security," Pompeo concluded.
Meanwhile, Romanenko warned that Europe's defense industry faces a "deep crisis" as arsenals run dry.
Also read why Boris Johnson called for immediate deployment of Western troops to Ukraine.