United States President Donald Trump has asked Europe repeatedly to contribute more to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. And although some in Europe refer to the alliance as “brain dead,” the respective member states have increased their military spending.

After years of military cuts, the U.S. has drastically increased its military spending under the Trump administration. Likewise, China has increased its spending as it aims to meet the U.S. level. Considering America’s and China’s massive military expenditures, it would be easy to overlook Europe’s growing military power. But doing so would be a fatal mistake. Global military spending as a whole is increasing, but as Britain has just left the European Union and antagonism within Europe toward the U.S. increases, one should keep a close eye on Europe, specifically Germany.

“Europe is again spending more on its own defense,” Germany’s Die Welt noted, referencing the database of the International Institute for Strategic Studies. Europe’s military spending may have “only increased 4 percent, from $278 billion to $289 billion,” but “[i]t can be observed that after a long decline under Barack Obama until 2014, European spending rose every year in the Trump era.”

President Trump is not the only one who has urged Europe to increase its military spending. French President Emmanuel Macron has as well, but for different reasons.

In November 2018, Macron called for a “true European army” to protect Europe “with respect to China, Russia and even the United States of America.” In an interview with the Economist, he said, the U.S. “is turning its back on us. What we are currently experiencing is the brain death of nato.”

As Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry has pointed out, Macron’s demands are often so much in Germany’s interests that he appears more and more “as a sort of puppet to Germany!”

This is a dangerous trend. While the U.S. and Britain are leaving the European continent to itself, France is increasingly inviting Germany to take on more responsibility.

Consider Macron’s February 7 speech on France’s defense and deterrence strategy. He demanded that Europe strive for strategic autonomy in order to obtain more freedom of action. And he invited Germany to take on greater responsibility on the Continent. Germany’s Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote:

The president of France addressed the European partners—but after Brexit, this meant, above all, Germany. In Berlin, people always react annoyed to Trump’s warnings to increase defense spending, but there should be food for thought when the same call is heard from Paris. Indeed, it is imperative that Europe, as Macron demands, define its “vital interests.” It would be foolish if the German answer to Macron’s wake-up call was shortened to the question of whether Bundeswehr jets could eventually carry French atomic bombs. If Macron offers to involve the nuclear armed forces, there is a political signal: France is ready to use all its resources to make Europe a serious security actor. Macron knows that France cannot do this alone. But he represents France’s leadership claim in Europe.

The United States should carefully watch these developments. Although compared to Russia, China and Iran, Germany still appears to be the U.S.’s ally, this alliance will prove most deceitful and dangerous.

A U.S. study found that only 13 percent of Germans have a positive view of President Trump. He finds greater approval in Russia and France (20 percent), Britain (32 percent), Poland (51 percent) and Israel (71 percent).

In a survey by the Pew Research Center and the Körber Foundation, 75 percent of Americans see their country’s relationship with Germany as good or very good. In stark contrast, only 34 percent of Germans share the same opinion. Sixty-four percent of Germans said relations are bad or very bad—an opinion that only 17 percent of Americans hold.

More and more Germans are growing hostile toward the U.S. Most Americans have not noticed this trend and continue to view Germany as a partner—but they are forgetting that it was Germany that started Word Wars i and ii.

In addition to understanding history, people today would do well to understand Bible prophecy. The Bible repeatedly warns that our nations are provoking God to send great punishment. God reveals that He will use Assyria, modern-day Germany, to execute that punishment (Isaiah 10:5).

Ezekiel 23 specifically prophesies that Germany will betray the U.S. “Wherefore I have delivered her into the hand of her lovers, into the hand of the Assyrians, upon whom she doted” (verse 9). As punishment for its sins, God will deliver America into the hands of its enemy, which it trusted as an ally. “Ezekiel 23 explains this heinous double cross,” Trumpet editor in chief Gerald Flurry writes in Ezekiel: The End-Time Prophet (free upon request).

Before a double cross can unfold, Germany and America must be allies, which they became following World War ii. Now, we are seeing a stark mood change in Germany that is a prelude to the coming betrayal.

Many people reject God’s warning message, believing that Germany would never start another war. This delusion works toward Germany’s advantage. The U.S. relies on its great military, but a surprise attack by one of its allies would be devastating.

To fully understand the Bible’s warning about this coming double cross, how it will happen, and the wonderful news will follow, request a free copy of Ezekiel: The End-Time Prophet, by Gerald Flurry.