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Managing the Transatlantic Divorce: A roadmap towards a European way of war
Recent statements by US Defence Secretary Hegseth at his first Ramstein format meeting, US Vice President Vance at the Munich Security Conference, and the clash between US President Trump and Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, have cast serious doubt on whether the current US administration will uphold security guarantees. Given these profound shifts in US policy, and the existential threat of another war on the continent, Europe, must manage its essential defence tasks (deterrence, defence and support to Ukraine) with limited or even no support from the US. A transition strategy into a European Way of War is needed. Besides a different approach to generating warfighting capabilities, industrial bases and spending money, this implies first and foremost a way of organising political leadership that ensures Europe’s security and defence. This transition would preferably take place in coordination with the US. But Europe needs to stand ready to go it alone.
