The high-profile conflict in the White House has led European leaders to finally realize that they must rely only on themselves. Peter Buras, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, points out that Brussels now has policies on its agenda that would have been unthinkable just a few weeks ago.
Points of attention
- Germany's awakening and willingness to enhance defense capabilities indicate a turning point in European history, emphasizing the need for self-reliance and independent decision-making.
- Even traditionally neutral countries like Ireland are reevaluating their positions, with considerations such as deploying troops without UN approval in response to evolving global scenarios.
Europe realized that it was left without US protection
According to the expert, radical changes have taken place in Germany, where future Chancellor Friedrich Merz won a vote in parliament to abolish Germany's "debt brake" — a mechanism to limit government borrowing.
This changes the rules of the game in Europe, because Germany was backward — especially among large countries — when it came to defense, — emphasized Petro Buras.
It is Germany's awakening that indicates that Europe has faced a turning point in its history.
It's no secret that French leader Emmanuel Macron is currently actively considering the possibility of extending the protection of his nuclear arsenal to European allies.
The head of the republic has long called for European "strategic autonomy" from the United States, and the quarrel between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump pushed Macron to make serious decisions.
Even countries known for their neutrality are reconsidering their positions. For example, the Irish government has introduced a bill that would allow it to deploy troops without UN approval, bypassing a possible Russian (or American) veto.
