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Carl Higbie didn’t pull any punches on Wednesday’s Carl Higbie FRONTLINE when he warned that Europe’s security and stability are propped up by American power — and that without the United States the continent would be dramatically diminished. He spoke plainly about the consequences of European dependence while reminding viewers that American taxpayers underwrite a peace most on the left take for granted.
The facts back him up: the United States still spends far more on defense than the rest of NATO combined, investing roughly close to a trillion dollars in 2024 while European NATO members, even as they raise their budgets, remain well behind in capability and scale. That isn’t bragging — it’s the sober arithmetic of deterrence; when America pays and trains and deploys, millions of Europeans sleep safer.
Our country has also been the financial and military lifeline for Ukraine, supplying tens of billions in weapons and assistance since 2014 and an overwhelming share of support since the 2022 invasion. Europe has helped, but the scale and speed of U.S. aid — and American logistical muscle — are the difference between Ukraine standing and Ukraine being crushed. Those are not abstract points; they are real aid numbers and real battlefield outcomes.
Yes, European capitals have belatedly boosted defense spending, and leaders there talk about “strategic autonomy.” But throwing more money at bloated procurement processes and political hesitancy won’t instantly replace the integrated American force posture, logistics networks, nuclear deterrent, and rapid-reaction capability the free world relies on. Europe can pretend otherwise in op-eds and summit photos, but the strategic reality is stubborn.
Let’s be honest: much of elite Europe has grown comfortable living in America’s security shadow while pursuing soft-left domestic priorities that weaken their societies — demographic decline, open borders, and punitive energy policies that leave them vulnerable. Conservatives aren’t interested in lecturing them about values; we’re warning taxpayers that goodwill without competence is a recipe for calamity. The era of generous excuses for European free-riding should end.
If Washington wants a durable peace, it must demand real burden-sharing and steelier partners instead of endless freebies; Congress and policymakers are already wrestling with what America should ask in return for its unrivaled commitment. We can protect the world without bankrupting our citizens or treating American security as a charity, and lawmakers should use the leverage that comes with being the indispensable nation.
Patriots should take Higbie’s blunt message as a call to action: support a strong military, insist on allies paying their fair share, and stop apologizing for American strength. The peace and prosperity we built didn’t happen by accident — it happened because the United States stood tall — and hardworking Americans deserve leaders who will keep it that way.
