Topic: Defense Policy

EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker calls for the creation of a common European army to project strength toward Russia. The proposal marks a shift in European defense policy, with some member states like the Netherlands already integrating forces with the German military.

Donald Trump's comments regarding NATO being "obsolete" and the need for other member nations to pay their fair share are discussed. The hosts suggest that Trump's rhetoric threatens the Military Industrial Complex and big oil interests, which benefit from the current U.S.-funded global security arrangement.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has moved to change the nation's constitution to allow for "collective self-defense." This legislative shift enables the Japanese Self-Defense Forces to protect allies like the United States and Australia under specific conditions, signaling a more proactive regional military stance.

Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel, speaking at an Atlantic Council event, described the current era as a "historic defining time" for a "new world order." Hagel's use of the specific phrase "new world order" is noted as a significant rhetorical choice during a period of global instability. The comments suggest a shift in post-World War II international structures as the U.S. navigates multiple conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe.