EU Grants Budget Flexibility to 15 Nations for Defense Spending—But at What Cost to Sovereignty and Fiscal Discipline?

On Tuesday, the European Union took a significant step by granting budget flexibility to fifteen member states, enabling them to increase defense and security expenditures without fear of penalties for surpassing the 3% GDP deficit limit. While this might sound like a robust response to rising geopolitical tensions, a deeper look reveals troubling implications for fiscal prudence and America First principles. The countries benefiting from this leniency include Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, and Slovenia. Notably absent so far is Spain, which remains noncommittal but is ready to join...