European Defence.
MAR 28, 2026
Europe must not bend the knee to Caligula.
First published 10 November 2024 (Robin Horsfall)
It is time for Europe to step up and become the world’s leading economic and military bloc. It is clear from recent events that the USA can no longer be relied upon to maintain the umbrella of security that protected us for eighty years. There is no longer a solid cultural foundation that can reassure us that our interests coincide. Next year the USA will be led by an administration that is isolationist and admires authoritarian states like Russia and North Korea.
NATO became fat and flabby after the fall of the Soviet Union. As fear of communism subsided, the costs of defence were drastically reduced across the western world. Intelligence was down graded to a ‘once upon a time status’ until the twin towers disaster of 9/11/2001.
That failure opened the door for an overwhelmingly fearful response to a very small terrorist group known as Al Qaida. That overzealous response led to wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Kurdistan, Israel, and the Arab Spring (amongst others). A frightened USA struck out in anger and hurt its allies almost as much as it hurt its enemies. 9/11 was the first time that NATO was called upon to support a member state that was under attack. The world is always dangerous, but the poorly considered reactions of GW Bush and his government reduced the status of the USA to a level not seen since their defeat in Vietnam.
Except for the first Gulf War, it is difficult to find a convincing American military victory since 1945. However, it has always been the willingness of the USA to invest in defence (and nuclear weapons) that deterred aggression. That deterrence is failing and we in Europe must fill the gap.
We have the skills, people, technology, and we also have the money, especially if we take the frozen $300 billion in Russian assets and use it to manufacture weapons for Ukraine.
After 20th January 2025, the USA can no longer be relied upon to stand up for us the way we stood up for them after 9/11. Trump has told us what he will do. He will withdraw from NATO, betray Ukraine, encourage Russian aggression in Europe. At the same time, he will impose an authoritarian regime on the best people of the USA leaving the greatest states to consider secession. Trump will bring the American Empire down and we must be prepared to stand alone as we did before 1917 when they helped to end the first world war.
Europe must build its military strength by recruiting more men and women. Ending outsourcing and building a self-supporting military that contains all the skills to defend our continent. No more private companies providing drivers, caterers, medics, engineers, tradesmen and so on. Our military should be regarded as an investment in the youth of our nation. This can be achieved by taking tens of thousands of bored young people and providing them with opportunities that will support not only the military but also be a skills engine for the country ten years down the road.
The greatest unifier of peoples is a common foe. Until recently Europe had problems with political insurgents that failed to affect our relative safety. However, we must be genuinely frightened of a Russian success in Ukraine. Putin has maintained his war in the hope of a Trump Presidency. His wish has come true, and as a result we might discover we have either a disinterested friend or a direct enemy at our backs.
States that have an immediate border with Russia or Ukraine are deeply concerned and are preparing for the worst. It is vital that all western nations realise that an emboldened Russia is a threat to the whole of western Europe, democracy, and rule of law.
In Russia there is ‘rule by law.’ Whatever Putin says is law, until a new autocrat takes his place. The USA is about to be ruled by a convicted criminal. When the boss steals the workers will steal. What’s good for the leader is good for all. Law rules in a democracy with the consent of the people. This consent is built on trust of the system. The leadership must be as answerable to the law as the people. Recent events in the USA prove beyond any doubt that this is no longer the case. In 2025 the USA will be ruled by the law of Trump.
It took the Pretorian Guard to remove Caligula, but that is no longer our problem.
We in Europe must double the size of our armed forces.
Offer young people the opportunity of learning trades, skills, positive roles, and self-respect in the service of their country.
Increase manufacturing for the defence of the realm.
Invest in technology and high-tech modern innovations.
Create jobs, create a vison for Europe. We are the best educated, the best fed, the most diverse and civilised continent in the world. We must not bend the knee to Caligula, we need to stand on our own between the Atlantic and the Russian border with friendship in one hand a heavy club (nuclear sub) in the other.
How frightened do we need to get before we get off our arses and turn our hard-earned riches to defending ourselves?
Who Dares Shares.
Robin Horsfall
PS: Now of course we have Iran!
For clarity, Robin reposted this Nov 10, 2024 article himself. For reasons that are very clear.
“It is time for Europe to step up and become the world’s leading economic and military bloc. It is clear from recent events that the USA can no longer be relied upon to maintain the umbrella of security that protected us for eighty years.”
He was right, but we did fuck all.
“We have the skills, people, technology, and we also have the money, especially if we take the frozen $300 billion in Russian assets and use it to manufacture weapons for Ukraine.”
Again he was right. But we didn’t do it because the custodian of that money; Belgian PM Bart De Wever, turns out to a closet putlerist/useful idiot.
“Every time the Epstein affair resurfaces, bombs explode somewhere in the world and cause a distraction.” Senator Claude Malhuret stood up in the French Senate this week and systematically torched every single member of Trump’s cabinet.
Nobody was spared. Not one.
“A year ago, here in France, I compared Trump’s presidency to Nero’s Court. I was wrong. It’s the miracle court,” Malhuret began. Then he went through the roster.
“An anti-vaxxer, former heroin addict as Minister of Health.” (That’s RFK Jr)
“A climate-skeptic Minister of Economy.” (That’s Scott Bessent)
“An alcoholic TV host, Minister of the Armed Forces.” (That’s Pete Hegseth)
“An old Qatar agent, Minister of Justice.” (That’s Pam Bondi, whose former firm collected $115,000 a month lobbying for Qatar)
“A groupie of Putin, Minister of National Security.” (That’s Tulsi Gabbard)
Then he pulled back and went bigger.
“A Turkish proverb says: when a clown settles in a palace, he does not become king. It is the palace that becomes a circus.”
Malhuret pointed out that since Trump created his so-called Board of Peace, he has launched more military strikes than Biden did in his entire term. He called out the Boeing jet Qatar gifted Trump worth $400 million.
He called out the stock market manipulation that only insiders benefit from. He called out the Gulf investment deals enriching Trump and his family.
“Any one of these conflicts of interest would have caused an immediate procedure of impeachment here,” Malhuret said. “But we are not here. We are in MAGA’s America where public business is conducted in favor of private interests.”
Then came the line that cut deepest. “Every time the Epstein affair resurfaces, bombs explode somewhere in the world and cause a distraction.”
This is how the world sees us now. Not through Faux News. Not through “Truth” Social. Through the cold, clear eyes of allied nations watching a great country be hollowed out by crooks.
Every American should hear this speech. Share it everywhere.
‘“A Turkish proverb says: when a clown settles in a palace, he does not become king. It is the palace that becomes a circus.”’
Zelensky do you copy? 🤣
Europe has the potential to be a powerhouse, but it can’t even agree on getting rid of the time change. There is no real unity to make it a powerhouse, and it lacks the right leaders.