American shifts on Russia force Europe to act together

CDU foreign policy expert Norbert Röttgen has warned that US President Donald Trump is currently standing on Russia's side. Röttgen stated that Trump seeks to end the Ukraine conflict through far-reaching concessions, and argued that Europe needs to stand firm against this approach.

Sceptics of deeper European integration rightly point out that the United States remains Europe's primary security guarantor, providing vital capabilities that individual European nations cannot easily replace. Yet relying entirely on political stability in Washington leaves continental security vulnerable to changing political leadership across the Atlantic.

Europe can address this vulnerability by pooling defence procurement and establishing shared capabilities. When member states manage defence individually, their collective buying power is wasted and their influence over peace negotiations remains limited. By contrast, joint purchasing and coordinated planning allow European states to build a credible sovereign pillar within the transatlantic alliance.

A more self-reliant Europe does not weaken the alliance with the United States; it creates a balanced partnership of equals. Röttgen's assessment highlights that European security decisions cannot be left to external political cycles. Europe can secure its own continent, provided it chooses to build the capabilities required to act together.