Solo: A US-Europe Story

Presidents Trump, Macron, and Zelenskyy

When approached by the Economist for an Interview in 2019, Emmanuel Macron was just two years into his presidency in France. After providing his outlook on the future of his party’s governance, and the state of Europe moving forward, Macron eventually arrived at a bold stance on Euro-American relations: The United States cannot be relied upon as an ally, declaring the beginning of what he coined “the brain death of NATO”. As the Russian-Ukraine war rages, Trump’s commitment to European security appears to be faltering. With US’s ties to Russia growing stronger, Europe may need to prepare for a future without America’s security umbrella.

Recent meetings between Messrs. Putin and Trump have raised concerns across Europe, and some of Mr Trump’s comments certainly haven’t helped—he labeled Ukrainian Pres Vladimir Zelenskyy a “dictator”. A growing divide between the White House and its transatlantic allies is apparent, and it is this loss of confidence in US commitments has led to European leaders recognising the need to plan for a future in which they are no longer reliant on the US.

Given its current circumstances, the challenges faced ahead will prove to be an uphill battle for Europe. For decades, it defence has been heavily reliant upon US manufacturing, from its missile systems to heavy-lift airplanes and helicopters, all imperative to Europe’s military capabilities— and given that France and Britain, Europe’s only nuclear powers lack a sufficient stockpile of war heads to deter Russia, the continent now faces the challenge of matching America's military capabilities whilst also picking up the bill.

As the Euro-American bond is beginning to show cracks, Europe's dilemma— as to whether they can adapt to a future in the absence of American support— is still undetermined.

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