December 14, 2025Dec 14 The Trump Effect Forces Europe To Grow Up—Fast And Alone Donald Trump’s second term has landed on Europe like a stress test it did not prepare for — and may not fully pass. From defence and trade to climate and political identity, Trump has exposed long-standing European dependencies and illusions, forcing the continent into a rapid, uncomfortable recalibration. The most immediate shock is strategic. Trump has shattered the assumption that shared “Western values” automatically guarantee shared priorities. As Hungarian analyst Attila Demkó argues, Europe’s liberal consensus — from multiculturalism to political correctness — no longer aligns with Washington’s centre of gravity. More destabilising still, Trump has ended what Demkó calls Europe’s “strategic holiday”: the post-Cold War belief that security could be outsourced indefinitely to the United States. Europe is now being told, bluntly, to pay full price for its own defence and much of Ukraine’s survival. For some, this is overdue. Former U.S. ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison argues Trump may be “doing Europe a favor” by forcing genuine burden-sharing. If Europe follows through on pledges to spend up to 5 percent of GDP on defence — and coordinates procurement and training through NATO — it could emerge stronger, more capable, and economically revitalised through defence-industrial growth. The problem, critics note, is Europe’s long record of promising and delaying. Trust, however, may be the deeper casualty. Manfred Elsig of the University of Bern argues Trump has eroded the political capital underpinning the transatlantic alliance. NATO remains intact, but the assumption of U.S. reliability no longer holds. The same rupture runs through trade, where tariffs and protectionism have ended the era of predictable, rules-based transatlantic commerce. Europe is now accelerating efforts to “de-risk” supply chains and look beyond the U.S. for stable partners. Climate policy has also taken a hit. Heather Grabbe of Bruegel warns Trump-induced crises — defence panic and trade wars — are diverting attention and money away from Europe’s most certain threat: climate and resource insecurity. Europe remains energy-poor, reliant on expensive U.S. LNG, and weighed down by fossil fuel subsidies that undermine long-term resilience. Trump’s approach, she argues, locks Europe into dependency rather than independence. Yet out of turbulence, adaptation is emerging. Aliona Hlivco sees Europe finally abandoning its aircraft-carrier mentality — slow, bureaucratic, predictable — for something faster and more agile. Germany is rearming, France is operationalising “strategic autonomy,” Nordic and Baltic states are leading defence innovation, and Poland is rising as a military heavyweight. Europe, for the first time in decades, is acting rather than declaring. Politically, Trump’s impact is paradoxical. As Aleksandra Sojka notes, he has both weakened the alliance and catalysed European unity. Public opinion has shifted. Once-taboo ideas — joint procurement, deficit exemptions for defence, coordinated rearmament — are now mainstream. Trump did not create Europe’s vulnerabilities. He exposed them. What follows will determine whether Europe finally becomes a strategic adult — or remains dependent in a world that no longer guarantees protection. KEY TAKEAWAYS Trump has shattered Europe’s assumption of permanent U.S. security backing. Defence spending, rearmament and strategic autonomy are no longer optional. The shock may yet strengthen Europe — but only if promises turn into action. SOURCE: POLITICO
The Trump Effect Forces Europe To Grow Up—Fast And Alone Donald Trump’s second term has landed on Europe like a stress test it did not prepare for — and may not fully pass. From defence and trade to climate and political identity, Trump has exposed long-standing European dependencies and illusions, forcing the continent into a rapid, uncomfortable recalibration. The most immediate shock is strategic. Trump has shattered the assumption that shared “Western values” automatically guarantee shared priorities. As Hungarian analyst Attila Demkó argues, Europe’s liberal consensus — from multiculturalism to political correctness — no longer aligns with Washington’s centre of gravity. More destabilising still, Trump has ended what Demkó calls Europe’s “strategic holiday”: the post-Cold War belief that security could be outsourced indefinitely to the United States. Europe is now being told, bluntly, to pay full price for its own defence and much of Ukraine’s survival. For some, this is overdue. Former U.S. ambassador to NATO Kay Bailey Hutchison argues Trump may be “doing Europe a favor” by forcing genuine burden-sharing. If Europe follows through on pledges to spend up to 5 percent of GDP on defence — and coordinates procurement and training through NATO — it could emerge stronger, more capable, and economically revitalised through defence-industrial growth. The problem, critics note, is Europe’s long record of promising and delaying. Trust, however, may be the deeper casualty. Manfred Elsig of the University of Bern argues Trump has eroded the political capital underpinning the transatlantic alliance. NATO remains intact, but the assumption of U.S. reliability no longer holds. The same rupture runs through trade, where tariffs and protectionism have ended the era of predictable, rules-based transatlantic commerce. Europe is now accelerating efforts to “de-risk” supply chains and look beyond the U.S. for stable partners. Climate policy has also taken a hit. Heather Grabbe of Bruegel warns Trump-induced crises — defence panic and trade wars — are diverting attention and money away from Europe’s most certain threat: climate and resource insecurity. Europe remains energy-poor, reliant on expensive U.S. LNG, and weighed down by fossil fuel subsidies that undermine long-term resilience. Trump’s approach, she argues, locks Europe into dependency rather than independence. Yet out of turbulence, adaptation is emerging. Aliona Hlivco sees Europe finally abandoning its aircraft-carrier mentality — slow, bureaucratic, predictable — for something faster and more agile. Germany is rearming, France is operationalising “strategic autonomy,” Nordic and Baltic states are leading defence innovation, and Poland is rising as a military heavyweight. Europe, for the first time in decades, is acting rather than declaring. Politically, Trump’s impact is paradoxical. As Aleksandra Sojka notes, he has both weakened the alliance and catalysed European unity. Public opinion has shifted. Once-taboo ideas — joint procurement, deficit exemptions for defence, coordinated rearmament — are now mainstream. Trump did not create Europe’s vulnerabilities. He exposed them. What follows will determine whether Europe finally becomes a strategic adult — or remains dependent in a world that no longer guarantees protection. KEY TAKEAWAYS Trump has shattered Europe’s assumption of permanent U.S. security backing. Defence spending, rearmament and strategic autonomy are no longer optional. The shock may yet strengthen Europe — but only if promises turn into action. SOURCE: POLITICO
December 15, 2025Dec 15 If by 'growing up', you mean EU countries buying America's weapons, it's a win-win for USA and a disaster for people. Think how much better that money could be spent.
December 15, 2025Dec 15 7 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said: If by 'growing up', you mean EU countries buying America's weapons, it's a win-win for USA and a disaster for people. Think how much better that money could be spent. Europe needs to have the ability to defend itself.
December 16, 2025Dec 16 10 hours ago, TedG said: Europe needs to have the ability to defend itself. Okay, so what does 'defense' mean? Nukes, star wars, golden shield, robot soldiers? How about diplomacy? Negotiation, compromise, conciliation, amity are sadly lacking. We haven't progressed very far if we're still killing each other off. Look to the animal world--do you see them killing their own species? Nope, just us savages. All that money saved could raise everyone's standard to living through social services.
December 16, 2025Dec 16 21 minutes ago, unblocktheplanet said: Okay, so what does 'defense' mean? Nukes, star wars, golden shield, robot soldiers? How about diplomacy? Negotiation, compromise, conciliation, amity are sadly lacking. We haven't progressed very far if we're still killing each other off. Look to the animal world--do you see them killing their own species? Nope, just us savages. All that money saved could raise everyone's standard to living through social services. It’s up to Europe to figure out what they need.
December 17, 2025Dec 17 On 12/16/2025 at 8:53 AM, TedG said: It’s up to Europe to figure out what they need. What they don't need is weapons!
December 17, 2025Dec 17 On 12/15/2025 at 9:28 PM, TedG said: Europe needs to have the ability to defend itself. Defend itself against an imaginairy enemy (Russia), while the real enemy has already invaded and is going to take over.
December 17, 2025Dec 17 Just now, FlorC said: Defend itself against an imaginairy enemy (Russia), while the real enemy has already invaded and is going to take over. More likely we'll end up begging Russia to help us get our countries back. Russia do know how to deal with these invaders - and no - it doesnt involve giving them free houses and welfare for life and helping them bring the entire extended family along.
December 17, 2025Dec 17 If one looks at the recent history of Europe it is plain to see that European leaders, all across the board, from the UK, to Italy, Germany, France and beyond in the Baltics, Poland etc, have deteriorated in quality rather shockingly since the 1970s and 80s. To think the current crop of delusional European leaders, who've achieved nothing usually and rose through the ranks purely on reasons of political networking, much like von der Leyen got the top European job because her old girls' network headed by Angela Merkel reccomended her for the job, could back up their delusional politics with massive armies and weaponry is a nightmare. Rather than "grow up", European infantile and incompetent leaders are acquiring weapons and armies. It will not end well.
December 18, 2025Dec 18 On 12/15/2025 at 9:28 PM, TedG said: Europe needs to have the ability to defend itself. They do have their own weapons producers, have to ditch all the USA merchandize what can be produced locally.
December 18, 2025Dec 18 On 12/16/2025 at 8:53 AM, TedG said: It’s up to Europe to figure out what they need. Not a partner who wants to invade Greenland, Panama, Venezuela for economic gain. 'We want it back': Trump asserts US claims to Venezuelan oil and land
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