Former US general says Washington has lost influence with allies
(Baonghean.vn) - Lieutenant General Ben Hodges commented that the efforts of NATO member countries to provide Western weapons to Ukraine, even in the event that Donald Trump returns to the White House, show that the US is gradually losing influence, as well as trust with its allies.
"It's a shame. This shows that our allies are losing faith in the United States. If they no longer trust us, the United States will lose influence over them," retired Lieutenant General Ben Hodges, former commander of the US Army in Europe, told NBC.
According to former General Hodges, no one believes that the US will support Ukraine "as long as necessary" as promised. Mr. Hodges also added that all of America's most reliable allies are European countries.
In early April 2024, Politico reported, citing sources, that NATO could take over the Washington-led contact group on aid to Ukraine, which coordinates arms deliveries to Kiev. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which was established shortly after the conflict in Ukraine broke out in February 2022, holds regular meetings to coordinate military and financial aid efforts to Kiev.
At the same time, NATO has proposed creating a 100 billion euro support fund to support Ukraine over five years, a move that comes amid concerns about former US President Donald Trump's re-election prospects.
The proposal would give the Western alliance a more direct role in coordinating the supply of weapons, ammunition and equipment to Ukraine.
In this way, the West's support for Ukraine will be maintained continuously, not affected by the factors of political power fluctuations in the European Union and the United States, Politico notes.
NATO declined to comment in detail, but a NATO official said ministers would "discuss how best to organise support for Ukraine, to help Kiev become stronger".
