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> When you get defense for “free” from an overstretched US military, you obviously have more budget to develop your own country.

I have been saying for decades, they need to pay tribute. Never before in history has a super power defended smaller nations and expected nothing in return. The US taxpayer should enjoy some relief from foreign governments who want to be defended.

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They do pay tribute. Slightly obfuscated behind the financial order that comes with that 'protection'. Look up debt levels, or how ownership of strategic assets changed hands in the historical blink of eye since eg Eastern Europe joined NATO / EU.

It they had paid enough the US wouldn't have trillions in debt from spending on defense.

That's entirely different problem, and US-internal one: privatization of the profits and socializing of the losses.

The US is offering as much protection as the New York mafia offers local shopkeepers - protection from themselves. Sure, we need to pay tribute, but that's because we're vassal states, not because we get anything in return.

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