Europe never decided to outsource its defense to the US.

It was the US that wholeheartedly sold quadrillions worth of armaments to the EU, in order to support the cold war remnants of its military industrial complex.

The "funding the retiree class" comment is simply silly, I will not even get baited.

Europe relies on the US less for money, and more for capabilities.

Within North Atlantic Treaty Organization, the US provides most of:

- Strategic airlift (moving large forces quickly)

- Aerial refueling

- Missile defense

- Intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance (ISR)

- Command, control, and battle management

- Nuclear deterrence (via the US nuclear umbrella)

Europe can field armies, navies, and air forces, but large-scale, high-intensity war is much harder without the US.