Former senior UK defence figures James Heappey and Ben Wallace have raised concerns about the geopolitical shift following a statement from US President Donald Trump, who announced an agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin to begin immediate negotiations over the Ukraine war.
In response, Heappey, the former Minister for the Armed Forces, described the development as a pivotal moment for global security, warning that Europe must now rapidly invest in its own defence.
“Make no mistake, this is a pivotal day in this century. Pulling the plug on Ukraine, US disinvesting in European security, and the big powers redrawing the boundaries of smaller ones. A new reality faces Europe and it’s going to require urgent investment in defence & security,” Heappey stated on social media.
The remarks came after Trump’s announcement, which raised immediate questions about the future of NATO cohesion and Western military support for Ukraine. The President’s statement, made following a call with Putin, signals a shift in US foreign policy and its stance on the ongoing conflict.
Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who served from 2019 to 2023, echoed Heappey’s concerns, warning that NATO unity is under threat. However, he emphasised that Europe must now step up and take responsibility for its own defence.
“At these times it is important to remember what our enemies would want us to do. They would want NATO to fracture and Europe and the UK to fall out with the US,” Wallace wrote. “They wouldn’t want us to increase defence spending and recognise that the transatlantic partnership is enduring.”
While Wallace acknowledged long-standing US frustrations over European defence spending, he insisted that this moment must serve as a wake-up call.
“I am not angry by the demand for Europe to carry its fair burden on defence. The US has for a decade told us to do so. And few listened. So we must stand up and take responsibility,” he stated.
However, his greatest concern was not about NATO members increasing their defence contributions—but rather the US seemingly abandoning its leadership role on the global stage.
“But what does bother me is the US seems to also want to surrender its leadership both morally and militarily. The world is better when the US leads and stands strong for freedom and democracy.”
A Changing Security Landscape for Europe?
The shift in US rhetoric raises serious questions about the future of Western unity in confronting Russian aggression. If US military and financial support for Ukraine is reduced, European nations may be forced to fill the gap—both in weapons supplies and security commitments.
Heappey’s and Wallace’s comments underscore the urgency of the moment, with both former ministers making the case for immediate increases in European defence investment to counterbalance the uncertainty in Washington.
For the UK and NATO, the stakes are clear: strengthen transatlantic ties, increase self-reliance, and ensure that Western unity remains intact—even in an era of shifting US priorities.
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We stood up for what was right! We fought for moral reasons, we passed and struck down laws for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest. We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and cultivated the world’s greatest artists and the world’s greatest economy. We reached for the stars, and we acted like men. We aspired to intelligence; we didn’t belittle it; it didn’t make us feel inferior. We didn’t identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election, and we didn’t scare so easy. And we were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed. By great men, men who were revered. The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one—America is not the greatest country in the world anymore.
Fantastic monologue and very close to the bone right now. Don’t know how Trump can claim to be making America great again by withdrawing leadership on the world stage.
The root cause of Europe being defence weak doesn’t lie in the United States. It lies in a weak and vapid European political class.
In the case of the UK if you set a political limit of what you are going to spend on defence of 2% but the cost of maintaining your existing defence is greater than that what do you think is going to happen over the long term? Welcome to the world that David and George built.
Trump isn’t the problem is merely the catalyst to solving it.
The root cause of Europe’s weakness is the EU’s decision not to acknowledge its Christian heritage in the Lisbon treaty. French model republicanism and liberal democracy are no defence against Islamic expansionism and Frankfurt School woke.
The current US is an issue. Not exactly the same as 1930s Europe – DT looks closer to Neville Chamberlain to Russia. Not good.
Former defence ministers who had a chance to do something about it ?? And whose party is responsible for the demise our military??
To be fair BW did a good job and got Boris to green light a lot of programs.
Rishi wasn’t that interested and the calculus was to deal with the Kamakwasi fallout.
Defence spending had slowly risen from below 2% to 2.3% so there was direction of travel.
It’s easy for Ben Wallace to bang the drum from the side-lines but he did nothing to arrest the decline. As much as i think Trump is a barely literate, Orange shithouse he is absolutely correct. We should never have become so reliant on the US to shoulder the defence burden so broadly. A war in Europe should have been a wake up call but i fear nothing will change. If the government wanted to raise defence spending it would, but that would be unpopular with the electorate.
There aren’t many politicians I’d take that particular lecture from. Ben Wallace is one of them. His biggest Defence “crime” was in not accepting the role of Prime Minister when he could. I’d like to say I can’t blame him, but in my heart, I kind of do.
Trump was elected on the slogan “America First.” Not NATO First, not Europe First. The European Press has done Europeans a great disservice by not understanding the popularity of that sentiment west of the Potomac. While members of NATO willingly accept the American defense shield, the same European members refuse to pay for their own defense while simultaneously are members of a European Union that treats the United States, at best, as an adversary and more often than not as an enemy. Americans are no longer willing to allow Europeans to have it both ways. While some may advocate that the US is stronger with a European alliance, too many Americans have come to believe that they have been played for suckers by an arrogant, effete, European establishment that, at heart, wishes the US to just go away. Most of America is just not willing to carry on with the charade.
Bullshit. How sad you are that you swallow the poisonous , lying narrative of a former reality TV participant with decades of documented fraud, lying, sexual offences, bankruptcies, and felony.
It’s a great shame that he’ll destroy American prestige because of his unresolved daddy issues.as his fragile ego and insecurity along with that of his MAGA acolytes lead him to attack long standing allies.
And speaking of being played for suckers, remind everyone again which Nato country claimed Article 5 following 9/11 and dragged its allies into decades of pointless, ruinously expensive middle Eastern wars, and then threw them all under the bus ?
That’s right, big, tough all powerful Uncle Sam.
You can’t have it both ways.
Trump has just about guaranteed another Russian attack on a European country in the next few years. Who needs enemies with friends like Trump and his America.
He’s also adding a hugely to the risk of a sino US war… it will be a big war, a Great War the best war we have ever had… or he may just let china know he’s abandoning the western pacific… not sure which will happen yet, but Xi will be deciding soon which way he thinks it will go.
I remember posting some months ago that if DT got elected he would pull the plug and Europe, including ourselves would have to send troops to Ukraine because it could not substitute materiel for soldiers like the US could. What I did not reckon was that Trump would add to this that if several Nato nations are then attacked in Ukraine it would not become an article 5 issue. In floating this Trump dissolves Nato and increases the probability of a continental war overnight. We have only ourselves to blame. We must create a coordinated European alternative, including defence industries to wean ourselves from the USA. The consequences, if successful could be the relegation of the USA from it’s position of primacy and leadership to that of one if four blocs, China, America, Russia and Europe.
The safety of Europe relies on Mother Nature taking both of these deluded old men
You may be out of luck, I’m afraid. Putin is only 72.
I’m minded of Psalm 90, probably the oldest in the Bible: “The days of our years are threescore years and ten. And if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow.” Even with the medicine of three and a half thousand years ago, strong people lived to 80. Unfortunately the labour and sorrow in Putin’s case belong to other people.
When you reflect on the EU’s response to Ukraine, you see the same mindset that has been driven more by peace dividends than border or regional security. Germany deserves special mention for being a woeful disgrace in regards to national defence and aid to Ukraine. The UK is marginally better but not enough to merit bragging rights.
If I was an American, I would question if these people are worth defending. If I was forced to answer the question I would be most uncomfortable.
Let’s be honest, with America gone from the equation, Russia still couldn’t win a stand up fight with Europe after the mauling it got in ukraine so far.
The problem with that fight when it comes, is that with America withdrawing from Europe, the major countries if Europe will turn the following events into a power struggle to be the one in control of Europe as suits whatever national agenda they want, France will want to command, Germany will want to command, uk will want to command etc. etc. And this will blunt any sort of response from Europe because each country will want to different things so a mixed message will be put out.
This needs to be played smart, by the book in the public eye and really bloody dirty where people can’t see, Russia has already crossed what should be the red lines of of what should be considered an act of war.
The SDR’s terms of reference required them to think within the then existing defence expenditure plans. Yesterday Hegseth’s speech made much of the SDR’s work out of date since defence spending is now simply going to have to rise.
The mood music now pouring out of Russia is nauseating, I keep having to remind myself that it is Putin the peacemaker who allowed genocide, war crimes and invaded Ukraine. Peskov and chums are making it sound like it is a mutual war that they want to call time on.
Putin will demand sanctions are lifted the day peace breaks out or his suddenly non wartime economy will collapse. Europe needs to face facts we are facing a despotic sham democratic oligarchy that cares nothing for international law and even less for alliances and friendships. A selfish psychotic cess-pit of a morally bankrupt country poses a huge threat to us. Then there is the threat from Russia. Russia must never be allowed to rebuild or they will walk all over Europe in weeks because “NATO” is an empty illusion. Can you honestly see Turkey mobilising its huge military to kick Russia out of Estonia? Not a chance.
The only thing the Conservatives did for defence was cut cut cut. Short sighted PMs and Chancellors with mediocre Def Secs. They had their chance and blew it.
It seems that we have returned to the situation that was in place before the changes that happened in Europe 1989- 91. Important decisions regarding Europe’s future are not made by Europeans themselves. In other words, Europeans are not the masters of even their own house. How could this happen?
I actually feel sick.
I can’t believe we’re going to let down the Ukrainians, having dallied and thretted over giving them the means to fight back and kick Putin’s ass.
3 long and bloody years, fighting into the ground that awful people.
And we’re just going to let Trump hand them to the dogs.
I feel sick.
I don’t think I’ve ever felt so revolted, witnessing such a cowardly betrayal of a valiant people.
I hope our politicians are going grow a bit spine – whatever the realpolitics – and help the Ukrainians finish the job.
I hope for our kids sakes they grow some f-ing spine.
Trump has no balls.
I feel sick to the core.
You said in words what I thought!
A new reality faces the world.. essentially the western alliance is heading down the toilet, just as an anti U.S. and western alliance is forming…
Sadly it’s looking more and more like Europe is going to have to face the defence of its interests separate from the U.S….so Europe needs to be able to collectively handle Russia and ensure its core sealanes and access to market and materials remain open
So essentially
1) an eastern boarder policy and capabilities…these are heavy land forces on the eastern boarder of E NATO, as well as a strong airforce,and air defence, the ability to punch out Russia using nuclear weapons and if needed strike hard with conventional missile strikes…as well a a very strong green water set of navies to manage the risks in the artic circle, North Sea, Norwegian Sea, Baltic and med.
2) expeditionary land and air forces and the ability to deploy those forces in Africa and other places to defend European interests, markets and access to resources.
3) An expeditionary navy capability that included SSN and carrier battle groups that can control the eastern Atlantic, med, and ensure access to the eastern Indian Ocean as well as access into the pacific.
Basically if this split continues down the road it is Europe will need to have a defence policy that focus on Europe and access to Africa and access in and out of the Indian Ocean