This week, the European Parliament debated Europe’s response to the announced reduction of the US military presence in Europe — particularly on NATO’s eastern flank. The debate followed the Pentagon’s recent decision to reduce the number of US brigades stationed in Europe from four to three and to pause additional troop deployments to Poland for the time being.
This decision is part of a broader trend that has been unfolding for years: Europe cannot rely on the United States remaining a reliable security partner under all circumstances. Donald Trump is openly challenging that assumption — through attacks on NATO, threats against allies, and a political style that increasingly treats international partnerships as tools of pressure. Europe finally has to take greater responsibility for its own security.
Yet to this day, Europe still organises its defence too often along national lines instead of collectively. Member States continue to procure similar systems in parallel, coordinate too little, and block common European solutions. This wastes billions, creates unnecessary dependencies, and weakens Europe’s ability to respond to crises quickly and in unity.
My Speech:
In my speech in the European Parliament, I made clear: reliable security cannot be built on unreliable partners. Donald Trump has repeatedly shown that political concessions will not shield Europe from new threats or attempts at coercion. The only credible response is more European cooperation. That means strengthening Europe’s defence industry, building shared capabilities, increasing support for NATO’s eastern flank, and finally taking decisive steps towards a genuine European Defence Union. Because Europe cannot afford to act united only once the next war has already begun.
