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Comment by voidfunc | Hacker News Reader

Enjoy it while it lasts, your social programs are a gift from the US historically subsidizing your defense.

This always went both ways with the EU providing a market. When the US stops to provide defense, watch and see the EU reaction, starting with all things digital.

As India and China both produce solid middle classes demanding American products, this will matter less and less. We're already seeing this on the West Coast of America (what I know) where Asian and Indian cultures are gaining more and more influence.

It will not matter less and less because China can and will satisfy that demand themselves without relying on American products. So far the US exports about half as much to China compared to the exports to the EU (2022). And it will likely export less to China in the future.

India is not even close to replacing the huge European middle class and even if it were it has proven to be a highly unreliable partner. And so far the US exports to India are not even 15% of what is exported to the EU (2022).

The EU middle class comprises around 280 million people. Almost as many as the whole US population. And it is culturally and politically aligned with the US to a large extent. It‘s a huge market to loose.

Nobody would drop 15-20% of their exports to try to save 5% of their defense budget all while loosing influence and power.

The US is also a market for EU products.

To reverse roles in your argument: Imagine if the US put sanctions on EU companies because EU militaries aren't doing enough to help the US fight cartels in Mexico. Seem reasonable?

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