When I stepped out of a C-47 and descended under a parachute into Normandy to celebrate the 80th anniversary of D-Day, it was a homecoming of sorts. I remember fondly the time I spent stationed in Germany and at NATO Command Headquarters in Brussels. In my role as chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, I value that experience and the knowledge I gained.
In the weeks since my appointment as chairman, I have met with at least ten foreign delegations in Washington. Each meeting begins in a familiar way — with warm greetings, a few comments on the display of military memorabilia in my office and maybe even a Texas joke or two.
Then, once settled in, the real conversations begin. The members of these delegations want to know what direction America will take in a second Trump term and what a Republican-led Congress will prioritize in the face of rising global threats. Our European allies have made it clear they are eager to evaluate the seismic shift in America’s foreign policy under Trump’s America First agenda.
The feckless Biden administration’s projection of weakness across Europe and the Middle East ushered in chaos and instability. We watched as America bent the knee to our adversaries — China, Russia and Iran — resulting in emboldened enemies seeking greater influence and posing expanded threats to our national security and that of our allies.
We now find ourselves with the proxies of this new axis of evil attacking allies, endangering shipping lanes and threatening American servicemen and women.
Under President Donald Trump’s leadership, America is projecting renewed strength and reestablishing an effective deterrence. As chairman of the Europe Subcommittee, I am focused on re-establishing America’s global credibility and implementing the America First priorities of the Trump administration.
In my meetings with allies, I have been reassuring them that America First does not mean America only. When it comes to security concerns, we all have a role to play in our mutually supportive alliances. We must work together and take steps to protect and keep Europe secure.
Our NATO allies must pay their fair share.
The era of American taxpayers carrying the load for European defense, while others drag their feet is over. NATO nations should be contributing at least 5% of their GDP towards defense. While progress is being made, there are still some countries that are not even spending the agreed upon 2% of their gross domestic product (GDP).
The United States’ participation in this military alliance is not as a charitable benefactor — it should be for mutual defense.
NATO must find energy self-sufficiency.
A nation should not purposely spend billions to arm one side of a conflict while also sending billions to bolster the economy of its opponent. Yet, that is exactly what Europe does every day.
The European Union (EU) must wean itself off of reliance on Russian fossil fuels. Over a decade ago, former German Chancellor Angela Merkel pushed Germany towards its dependence on Russian energy by expanding natural gas delivery pipelines.
Subsequently, radical environmentalists convinced European leaders to replace Russian energy by investing significantly in renewable energy projects, which have proven to perform poorly and not be as environmentally friendly as promised. Thus, Germany has reverted back to a reliance on Russian energy.
In 2021, Russia accounted for 55% of all energy imports to Germany, thus helping prop up Russia’s economy while also making Germany vulnerable to political blackmail. It will always be in NATO’s best interest to be as self-sufficient as possible rather than beholden to those with opposing worldviews.
International sanctions must be enforced.
The ability of Russia to continue sustaining the fight in Ukraine is dependent on troops, equipment and finances. With Chinese and Iranian military technology, including drones, Western semiconductors and the availability of North Korean troops, many paths have been forged to avoid American and EU sanctions.
Energy represents more than 50% of Russian exports and nearly all of those from Iran, of which China is the primary destination. These transactions have remained strong despite existing sanctions, providing the required funds for the Russian economy and war effort.
In fact, energy exports have enabled Russia’s “Yuanization,” which makes the Chinese RMB its primary reserve currency. While sanctions are having an effect, by evading sanctions, Russia has the financial wherewithal to continue to be the major player in the axis of evil.
China remains the greatest threat to the United States.
Make no mistake, China, Russia and Iran continue to push for more influence in the world as they continue to cause harm, arm proxies and pose a major threat to both the United States and our allies. China continues to support Russia’s war against Ukraine by providing material aid, further fueling instability.
China also stands as a competitor in the Indo-Pacific region as a threat to the world’s economy as a third of the world’s shipping passes through the South China Sea, much of which is bound for Europe. America and the EU have long recognized Taiwan as a reliable and like-minded partner and depend on its technology and manufacturing to enable the technology that drives our societies in both commercial and military spaces.
Together, we must defend against all threats, no matter where they appear. We live in a truly global environment and wherever the threat occurs, it is a threat to all.
The world and especially the Western world, needs a strong and vibrant Europe. Once again, civilization stands at a crossroads, so it is crucial that we stand together and work together toward our shared Western values — freedom, democracy and the rule of law.
Now more than ever, we must unite against our adversaries who seek to impose a different worldview from the one held by the Western world. We remain committed and joined together in the common effort as the preamble to the NATO treaty says, “… to unite their efforts for collective defense and for the preservation of peace and security.”
Keith Self represents Texas’ Third Congressional District and is the chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe.
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