The transatlantic partnership is in perilous waters, but it doesn’t have to be. The Trump administration has been clear that it has no interest in maintaining America’s preeminent role in European defence, picking up where his first term left off in chastising European leaders for their free-riding off America’s largesse.
The Trump administration should explicitly and broadly support the EU’s recent push towards strategic autonomy
America’s lagging interest in the Ukraine war, increased prioritisation of threats elsewhere, and growing tension between Washington and Brussels have exposed the neglected truth of a divergence in European and American security interests. While taking a brash approach towards a relationship that once formed a cornerstone of America’s foreign policy may cost the US some international goodwill, it is due time to reevaluate the transatlantic partnership, wind-down American troop deployments and defence provisions, and move towards a transatlantic alliance that is no longer characterised by wealthy and capable European countries depending on American security guarantees.
The Trump administration should explicitly and broadly support the EU’s recent push towards strategic autonomy. Opposing EU moves to ensure Europe’s own security capabilities will only serve to postpone the withdrawal of US defence resources and prolong American defence contributions and entrenchment. Overbearing American involvement in EU security discussions moving forward would be counterintuitive to weaning European dependence. Further, broad approval of the EU strategic autonomy agenda is the best option to pursue a more sustainable alliance going forward, one that is rooted in each party taking primary responsibility for its own defence, and cooperating in areas where priorities overlap.
Washington has been seeking more equal burden sharing with Europe for years. With US foreign policy focused on counteracting China’s rise and the EU perceiving Russia as the largest threat to itself, it is clear that the transatlantic alliance no longer rests on shared security priorities. Yet 65,000 permanent US troops remain stationed in Europe, with an additional 35,000 rotating and temporary personnel, with additional billions going towards security assistance for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022.
Amid building tensions with the US, European leaders have been bracing for a US withdrawal, with the most recent release of an EU Commission white paper outlining how the EU may move to address gaps in its capabilities and existing weaknesses in the European defence industry. This is just the latest indication that European leaders are accepting the need to buck their free-riding habits.
The idea of “strategic autonomy” has been floating within European policy circles since 2013, with the European Parliament Research Service defining it as the “capacity of the EU to act autonomously… in strategically important policy areas”. While there is still a lack of consensus over which terminology is most apt to describe this concept, the notion that Europe must pivot away from dependency on a foreign power has been expressed repeatedly in EU plans, such as the 2022 Strategic Compass. The EU has already pursued initiatives to wean dependencies on foreign entities, such as reducing dependence on Russian energy supply and reducing strategic economic and supply chain dependencies. While the debate within European policy spheres is still open as to the best way to alleviate reliance on external entities, the EU’s reinvigoration f moving towards autonomy in defence and security should be embraced and encouraged by Washington.
A more autonomous Europe would serve American interests in the long term by providing a stronger and more capable ally, while also ensuring a more sustainable and balanced NATO due to stronger member states. An autonomous Europe with deeper defence integration would also afford the US to hold a lighter footprint on the continent, reducing a major U.S. security burden. Supporting an autonomous Europe would not only provide a stronger partner in the global arena, it’s the only way to ensure a long term and sustainable transatlantic partnership.
An American exit from the European defence sphere does not necessitate an end to America’s relationship with the EU, and maintaining strong transatlantic relations remains critical to US security interests. The EU and its member states have continued to be a strong partner in counteracting perceived Chinese threats, particularly with regards to technology, and cooperating with European actors will continue to be vital to pursuing America’s security priorities. At the same time, policymakers in DC can no longer drag their feet hoping for a more attractive option other than dismantling the dependence that the transatlantic partnership has been built upon, nor can they continue to bear the burden of supporting European defence postures that don’t serve American interests. There is no realistic picture where the US is able to maintain its privileged position in European affairs without shouldering the burden of ensuring Europe’s security.
The US must deeply accept that in order to execute a drawdown from the European continent while still maintaining a vital partnership with European counterparts, European security and future policy frameworks must unequivocally be left to European actors to decide. The move towards dismantling European dependence on American security provisions should be accompanied by a larger acceptance within American foreign policy agendas that the US can maintain strong partnerships without needing to demand our partners act as vassals.
