The message couldn¡¯t have been clearer. In a 33-page National Security Strategy signed by U.S. President Donald Trump, the White House said Europe risked being wiped away unless it changed its culture and politics.
For Britain¡¯s Keir Starmer, France¡¯s Emmanuel Macron and Germany¡¯s Friedrich Merz, the timing of their key ally¡¯s latest broadside ¡ª much in the vein of Vice President JD Vance¡¯s infamous Munich address in February ¡ª was telling. It came just as Russia¡¯s war in Ukraine enters a potentially decisive phase.
European leaders are deeply concerned by U.S. efforts to cut a deal that was drafted with Russia and would represent a capitulation by the West. It¡¯s shattered confidence in the Trump administration on the continent and raised more existential questions: The transatlantic alliance is fracturing ¡ª can Europe defend itself?
With your current subscription plan you can comment on stories. However, before writing your first comment, please create a display name in the Profile section of your subscriber account page.