Wes Streeting: Britain and Europe must get out of ‘defensive crouch’

LIVERPOOL, England — Britain and Europe need to get out of their “defensive crouch,” Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said Monday, as he argued that U.S. pressure on European allies will ultimately result in a stronger Europe. Speaking at the POLITICO Pub at Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, Streeting added that he believes that America’s frustration over “European over-reliance” on the U.S. has “not been unique to the Trump administration.” The defense secretary said that, contrary to “the perception that the U.S. is somehow disengaging from Europe,” he has “experienced the exact opposite” — despite the ongoing U.S. review into pulling various troops and capabilities from across the continent.