Europe can no longer outsource its core security

Donald Trump’s recent diplomatic pivot towards Russian President Vladimir Putin has reignited widespread concern across Europe and Ukraine. Euronews reports that alarm is growing over Washington potentially pushing Kyiv towards capitulation, regardless of the consequences. In response, European capitals are scrambling to keep peace negotiations on track and limit the fallout.

The episode underlines a fundamental vulnerability in European defence arrangements. For decades, European nations have operated on the assumption that American security guarantees would remain constant. Yet when political priorities shift in Washington, European governments find themselves scrambling to manage major regional crises on their own terms.

Sceptics of a unified defence policy rightly argue that national security is bound up with sovereign authority, and that aligning 27 distinct national capitals presents real political hurdles. National governments naturally hesitate to yield control over defence priorities or procurement decisions.

However, maintaining 27 separate national frameworks leaves the continent exposed. Relying on external guarantors means European stability remains subject to political shifts in foreign capitals beyond European control.

Europe can build a genuine defence union that provides robust, independent deterrence while remaining a reliable global partner. By joint purchasing, coordinating capabilities, and speaking with one voice on continental security, European nations can protect their own borders. Strategic autonomy is no longer a federalist debate; it is a practical necessity.