comment: >
  
  Yes, also every American administration has been reminding Europe that it needs to invest more in its defense industry. The reason why the US defense industry is leading in terms of the weapons provided, is that the US never stopped investing in its defense industry.
context: Europe has to be more self reliant. That doesn't mean forget its alliances, but we have to prepare as though we are alone. >
  
  An improved readiness is clearly needed, but I concur, it does not mean forgetting alliances. I still think EU itself should remain an economic union, but a larger security union is already present as NATO, it's just that NATO is really dominated by US contributions, which is our own fault, and that France pulled out in many ways to do their own thing. >
  
  The Alliance is not something I have to depend on. It's something I have to choose, something I work with. We have to rethink our strategic autonomy," the French President said.
  "Europe should get more autonomy in matters of technology and defense potential, including from the United States," Macron added.
  Recall that earlier Macron promised to supply Ukraine with air defense systems and Caesar self-propelled artillery installations at the beginning of 2023.
  Also, at a joint press conference with Zelenskyy, Joe Biden explained why he opposes providing Ukraine with all the American weapons requested by Kyiv.
  This was reported by the press service of the Danish Ministry of Defense on Wednesday, December 21.
  Government representatives held consultations with parties in parliament and reached a decision to donate DKK 300 million (USD 42.8 million) to support Ukraine.
  The Minister of Defense of the Kingdom, Jacob Ellemann-Jensen, announced that on Monday he had a virtual meeting with the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  "He emphasized the need to maintain support from the outside world. That's why I'm glad that Denmark can make another big contribution to Ukraine's struggle for freedom," the press service quotes Ellemann-Jensen as saying.
  DKK 300 million allocated by Denmark will be directed to the International Fund of Ukraine (IFU) created by the United Kingdom.
  As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on August 11, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced an increase in financial support to Ukraine by another EUR 110 million.
  We also wrote that Denmark sent its military to the United Kingdom to help train servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of the Interflex operation.
  Later it became known that part of the Ukrainian military will undergo training on the territory of Denmark. >
  
  Fwiw, the amount of money in the just passed US budget for Ukraine is 40,000x greater than that from Denmark. France will need to step up.
  Edit: MY MATH IS WAY OFF. ABOUT 1100x. >
  
  Honestly, the problem with Europe in the context of Defense is Germany.  They're the DeFacto leaders of the region but are either too corrupt or too timid to enforce their own region.  
  So, Europeans depend on the US, which fills the power vacuum.  This works great until the US has some domestic issue, gets distracted, and pulls back.  Like 2016-2020.    
  Maybe it's time for a standing EU military. >
  
  Even were Germany not timid, they don't have the budget to be hegemonic the way the US does >
  
  Germany alone doesn't, but the EU as a whole certainly has the economic potential to field a military that rivals the US. They just lack the political will to do so.