Part 7/9:
Simultaneously, there were discussions regarding U.S. defense commitments to NATO amidst the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth was engaged in discussions in Europe aiming to bolster defense spending among allies. The conversations reportedly included potential tariff measures as leverage in economic negotiations. Trump’s agenda appears to align with increasing defense budgets significantly, which many believe is necessary for the U.S. to regain its competitive edge, particularly against nations like Russia and China.