Europe is facing an unprecedented security threat as Russia’s military mobilization extends beyond Ukraine, while the United States, under Donald Trump, increasingly distances itself from its transatlantic commitments. With NATO’s foundation weakened and internal EU divisions exacerbated by leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, European nations are taking matters into their own hands.
Leaders such as Emmanuel Macron, Keir Starmer, and Friedrich Merz are forging a new European security structure, balancing cooperation within the EU and NATO while establishing a “coalition of the willing” to confront the evolving geopolitical landscape. The role of the European Commission remains crucial in directing defense spending and policy coordination, even as Trump sidesteps engagement with Ursula von der Leyen.
As the U.S. military presence in Eastern Europe faces potential reductions, European powers—alongside non-EU NATO members like the UK, Norway, and Canada—are stepping up their commitment to Ukraine’s security and regional stability. This new Europe is defined by urgency, strategic autonomy, and a shared sense of purpose in countering Russian aggression and navigating an uncertain transatlantic alliance.
