what is lost? ( re US on a global stage)
for starters- our word to our allies. Thats where is starts and ends.
The demand for European countries to increase their defense spending was for optics - to align with Trumps "America First" narrative during campaign and first term.
Not a single US President, prior to Trump, has had an issue with America's part in NATO ( financial or otherwise ). Not a single regular American citizen had an issue, prior to Trump.
So what is the end goal of creating this thought that NATO has taken advantage of the US, financially? Have they? We are the worlds largest superpower, and in order to maintain that status, we must project our power ( both hard and soft ) across the globe. That requires alliances, treaties, promises and EXPENDITURES.
And we are looking to upend all that because Lithuania, whose GDP is 1/10 that of New York City, wasnt contributing 5% of GDP to defense but 2%?
THATS the issue? nah- its not. Something else is happening and im not sure what, but its not good.