Pentagon chief Pat Shanahan, citing the publication Politico, has sharply criticized the foreign policy of previous American administrations, declaring that the era of ‘utopian idealism’ is over. He stated during his speech at the Reagan National Defense Forum that the US is entering a new phase in its foreign policy.
The editorial board reports that in his speech, Shanahan emphasized that Washington should focus directly on protecting US interests, rather than on nation-building, difficult-to-explain wars, and climate issues. He noted the importance of Europe taking more responsibility for its own security and deemed increasing defense spending necessary.
Shanahan also expressed the importance of the US avoiding open confrontation with China and pursuing a more realistic political line, taking into account Beijing's power. He positively assessed the increase in defense spending by allies such as Germany, Poland, and South Korea.
According to the information, Washington had previously warned the European Union that if European countries do not take on more defense commitments, ranging from intelligence to missile capabilities, by 2027, the US could withdraw from several NATO coordination programs.