**US Criticisms of Europe’s Defense Spending Seen as a Sign of Engagement**
In a surprising turn of events, the top diplomat for the European Union (EU) welcomed criticism from Washington as a sign that America is still engaged in European affairs. The comments were made over the weekend at a defense forum in Singapore.
According to reports by Politico on May 31st, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas responded to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s comments about Europe’s military spending. Hegseth had suggested that Asian allies should match or exceed European efforts in light of the growing threat from China.
**A Positive Criticism**
Kallas took a surprisingly positive view of Hegseth’s criticism, saying “it’s love nonetheless, so it’s better than no love.” She pointed out that despite the critical tone, Hegseth had spoken positively about Europe and praised President Trump for European military improvements. The defense secretary even singled out Poland and the Baltic States as “model allies.”
**A Shift in Thinking**
Kallas acknowledged that there are divisions within Europe over military spending levels, but she also noted a shift in thinking among some EU countries. “Some of us have realized a long time ago that we need to invest in defense,” she said.
This positive response from the top EU diplomat suggests that despite criticism, America’s continued engagement with European defense issues is seen as a welcome development. It remains to be seen how this will play out in future defense talks between the US and Europe.
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