In this episode of The Focus, Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges joins us to unpack Europe’s growing defence dilemma. As U.S. support for NATO faces political headwinds and war rages in Ukraine, can Europe stand on its own? Or is it still relying too heavily on the American security umbrella?
We explore NATO’s credibility, European rearmament, and what’s needed to keep the continent safe in an age of rising threats.
Show Notes:
Contact Ben:
LinkedIn:
The Alphen Group (TAG):
https://thealphengroup.com/ben-hodges/
Top 5 Articles by Ben:
📰 1. Business Insider – “A key NATO ally said it would be 'really big mistake' for Europe to break away from the US weapons industry”
Date: June 25, 2025
A detailed interview where Hodges cautions Europe against moving away from U.S. defence suppliers.
📰 2. Business Insider – “Most NATO armies likely 'could not meet Ukrainian standards' in combat effectiveness, retired US Army general says”
Date: June 18, 2025
Hodges argues NATO should learn from Ukrainian battlefield experience rather than the other way around
📰 3. Cipher Brief – “Getting NATO to Be Able to 'Fight Tonight'” (Expert Q&A)
Date: July 1, 2025
Hodges examines NATO’s readiness following the Hague summit, focusing on rapid mobilisation and military preparedness.
📰 4. Cipher Brief – “Expert Q&A: Can Europe Defend Itself?”
Date: March 27, 2025
A deep dive into Europe’s defence capacity, allied cohesion, and whether the continent can maintain security without U.S. support.
📰 5. Swissinfo – “Former US general advises Switzerland to prepare for war”
Date: March 16, 2025
In this interview, Hodges urges Switzerland to ramp up defence — particularly drone defences and large-scale manoeuvres — as a precautionary measure.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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