In a sense that’s the case for most of the EU. Even after 19 years most of the European NATO countries had not gotten up to spending 2% of their gdp on defense, but the current buy-in of 5% (assuming they really intend to get there) has got to come from somewhere and that’s going to be unpopular with those who have been the recipients of what will now be cut back. Another issue is the growing disconnect between the priorities of the elites and the average citizen as shown by the increasing number of individuals voting for populist parties on both the Left and the Right.

Lastly, it’s a central tenet of market capitalism that transactions occur because both sides benefit from the transaction. Sanctions work both ways, and while sanctions against Russian oil and gas are hurting the Russians they are also hurting the European countries that were benefiting by the cheap gas and oil. Indeed, German automakers are in pretty dire straits right now. And they may merely be the canary in the coal mine.