NATO’s unity is being tested like never before. Energy shocks, rising populism, and war fatigue over Ukraine have opened fractures inside the alliance. Russia knows this and is playing the long game — betting that Western resolve will fade before their own economy collapses. For the U.S., the choice is clear: either shore up NATO now, or face a fractured Europe that can’t deter aggression without direct American intervention. It’s not charity. It’s strategy. A stable Europe is a force multiplier — it frees U.S. resources for the Indo-Pacific, where the real long-term challenge is rising. If Washington pulls back too soon, Moscow doesn’t just gain territory. It gains momentum. And momentum in geopolitics is far harder to stop than tanks on the ground. #Military #Geopolitics #USLeadership