Overview
- The National Security Strategy, released late last week, portrays Europe as in decline and uses language about potential 'civilizational extinction' and a continent 'not recognizable in 20 years'.
- The document says Washington will promote resistance to the EU’s current course, welcomes the rise of 'patriotic' European parties, and signals engagement with EU‑critical figures such as Hungary’s Viktor Orbán and Germany’s AfD.
- It calls for opening European markets to U.S. goods and securing fairer terms for American firms, while expanding political‑economic cooperation in parts of Europe, including arms sales.
- Reuters reports U.S. officials told counterparts they want Europe to assume most of NATO’s conventional defense capabilities by 2027, marking a sharp acceleration in burden shifting.
- Responses in Europe include a public warning from Poland’s Donald Tusk that America should treat Europe as an ally, comments from Emmanuel Macron urging unity on Ukraine, and analyst warnings that the approach could weaken transatlantic trust and spur European strategic autonomy.