The U.S. delegation reminded Luxembourg of its obligations
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The visit of the US Congressional delegation to Luxembourg was part of the commemoration of the Battle of the Ardennes, but the main topic of the meeting was the future of NATO and the Allies' responsibility for the security of Europe. Head of the delegation Michael McCaul, Chairman of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasised: "NATO is stronger than ever, but Europe needs to step up its efforts."
The message was as much about common defence as it was about finance: American politicians expressed dissatisfaction that the US remained NATO's largest donor and that European countries, according to American voters, were not investing enough in security.
Luxembourg, despite its limited resources, is taking steps to fulfil its commitments. Claude Wiseler, president of the country's parliament, said that by 2030, 2% of GNP will be spent on defence. The country recently passed a law allocating a record €2.6bn for the purchase of military equipment - the largest investment in its history.
The U.S. delegation was particularly interested in Luxembourg's electoral system, party funding mechanisms, and countering foreign interference. Wieseler recognised that Europe's democratic institutions are under increasing pressure from threats of cyber-attacks and electoral manipulation.
In this context, joint efforts to strengthen cyber security and protect digital infrastructure were discussed. Both parliaments agreed that this area is becoming a priority for international co-operation, given the increasing incidence of hacker attacks.
