European Ally Poses Threat to Long Term Security

Spanish military personnel arrive in Greece to participate in Steadfast Dart 2025. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

For decades, the alliance between Europe and the United States has maintained a status quo. However, new declarations now threaten to dismantle this historic partnership at a rapid rate. 

Having aided each other in World War II, select countries within the allied powers (and other European countries, such as Portugal and Belgium) formed NATO after their victory in 1945. Since then, NATO’s political sphere has spread to include most of Europe and the entirety of Western Europe, along with Canada and the United States. However, the alliance has recently proven to be weaker than many had expected.

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump stated his support for Russia and made comments accusing Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy of being responsible for the current war. Additionally, he indicated that he was willing to retract US security efforts in Europe, leaving European nations to handle the war themselves if they did not follow his lead in supporting Russia. Soon after, Vice President JD Vance and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth reiterated Trump’s remarks by informing European heads of state that they would ultimately be responsible for Ukraine. 

The Russo-Ukrainian war has not been the only point of disagreement between the US and Europe in recent times. Earlier in February, Vance explicitly criticized Germany’s political leaders for attempting to shut down an extremist right-wing party, claiming that it represses freedom. With contrasting views on various issues, the two sides threaten to clash continually in the future. 

Vice President Vance speaks at the 2025 Munich Security Conference in Germany.(AP Photo/Sven Hoppe)

Considering the long-lasting relationship between the United States and Europe, European leaders communicated both shock over these declarations and worry over the future of their alliance. In an effort to understand what could be done moving forward, President Emanuel Macron of France quickly convened numerous European nations together in Paris for the second time this week. Among the leaders meeting were representatives from Portugal, Ireland, Luxembourg and other Eastern European countries. 

While the United States has one of the strongest militaries on the globe, it is also one of the few countries in NATO to produce nuclear weapons. France and the United Kingdom are the European Union’s only two nuclear powers, leaving the continent partially unequipped against nuclear threats. Many European politicians have expressed reluctance about their capabilities to proceed without the US. Prime Minister Dick Schoof of the Netherlands, for instance, stated that he would prefer for Europe to continue working alongside the United States. President Macron himself admitted that he had little confidence in Europe’s ability to defend itself without their partner. However, new military budgets are projected to be released in March of this year, permitting European powers to provide themselves with the military security needed.

Although a potential future without the United States as a nuclear umbrella is intimidating for many leaders, there is initiative towards a locally provided source of defense. While officials assembled to discuss the current standing of their alliance with the United States, as well as the future of this historical partnership, large scale combat exercises ensued. Scheduled to take place over the next six weeks, the Steadfast Dart 2025 drills are a part of NATO’s Allied Reaction Force, a new plan designed to push European military power forward. The mission consists of approximately 10,000 service members, of which a significant portion comes from the United Kingdom with over 700 British military vehicles. The drills will occur in Eastern Europe, with participation by other Western European states such as France, Italy, and Spain.

NATO Secretary General and British Prime Minister speak at NATO Conference in Brussels, Belgium. (AP Photo/Omar Havana)

Trump has not recently indicated that he intends to leave NATO, but his viewpoint on the war has been presented as a non-negotiable for Europe. His conviction to abandon defense for Europe should they not concur has given the continent a glimpse of a potential future without this alliance. Many European leaders have expressed uncertainty about their own military capabilities – both for the current war and for their own long term safety. Still, efforts are being made to move forward, even without the assistance of the United States. President Macron has moved swiftly to unite the nations’ leaders, while their militaries will continue to work together over the next month and a half. Europe seems ready to fend for its own security rather than be backed into a corner, but the future of US-European relations — and the world order — are unclear.