He is saying if we are drawn into a conflict we should be reimbursed. I don’t think he is talking military for hire.
The following has zero to do with this tread topic.
Maybe my Viking ancestors would be disappointed, but I don't favor pillage.
Rape, plunder, and pillage is a nice slogan.
However, it takes longer for a society to recover after a pillaging. A quicker recover means less time before going back to rape and plunder again.