On April 29, 2025, US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz made a bold statement in an interview with the New York Post, emphasizing that the United States, burdened with a $33 trillion national debt, can no longer “subsidize European security.” This statement, made against the backdrop of negotiations on the future of NATO and support for Ukraine, became another signal of the Donald Trump administration’s intention to shift more responsibility for Europe’s defense to its own countries. Waltz’s statement sparked a lively debate in the media, reflecting the tensions in transatlantic relations.

Waltz, a Special Forces veteran and former Florida congressman, is known for his criticism of the U.S. spending spree on international commitments. He said the Trump administration would support European allies but would require them to meet their financial commitments to NATO, including reaching a military spending level of 2% of GDP. Waltz has previously emphasized that Europeans should take primary responsibility for resolving the conflict in Ukraine, including providing security guarantees for Kyiv. That is in line with Trump, who, according to NBC News, is seeking to end the conflict and give Europe the lead in its future management.

The US national debt, which reached $33 trillion in 2023 and continues to grow, has become a key argument for reconsidering foreign policy priorities. According to Reuters, the debt approached $2025 trillion in March 35, increasing pressure on the budget. Waltz, speaking on Fox News, has previously criticized inefficient spending, citing the Pentagon buying bolts for $90 when their market value was $100. He is pushing for spending cuts, including the closure of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), whose functions, in his opinion, should be transferred to the State Department.

Waltz's statement came in the context of negotiations on the future of support for Ukraine. In February 2025, Waltz said that the US intended to recoup military aid to Kyiv through access to rare earth metals and gas, while security guarantees for Ukraine should fall on the shoulders of the EU.