**Europe’s Existential Choice**
As I write this, the representatives of Poland and Slovakia are holding bilateral talks with their defense ministers in Warsaw. This comes at a time when Europe is facing an existential crisis, one that requires us to take our own security seriously.
For years, I’ve been advocating for the European Union to invest more in defense. The Russian President Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was a wake-up call for many Europeans, including myself. What would we do if our closest ally, the United States, was otherwise engaged? Today, we face that very situation.
U.S. officials are openly stating that they don’t intend to devote most of their time or resources to dealing with European issues. According to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the U.S. has “other priorities” to focus on. I agree. The global superpower has global responsibilities, and there are many flash points around the world demanding attention.
Moreover, according to official U.S. doctrine, the U.S. can no longer fight more than one major war at a time. This means we Europeans must be prepared for the worst – the possibility of the U.S. washing its hands not only of Ukraine but even of Europe itself.
**A New Era**
Europeans may not like what they hear, but we cannot pretend not to hear it. We must be prepared to take control of our own security. This is an existential choice we face as a continent. We can either enter the global game united, as a heavyweight competitor, or condemn ourselves to marginalization.
Much has been done already to become a heavyweight contender. NATO members (excluding the U.S.) have increased their annual defense spending by 98% since 2016. The EU and its member states have also proven willing to spend more on defense planning and procurement. A new joint defense agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom is another step demonstrating this new strategic solidarity.
**Deterring Russia**
Deterring Russia is not beyond our means. We don’t need to match U.S. military capabilities; rather, we just need enough to force Putin to reconsider his chances of winning in a confrontation with a united European community of democratic nation-states.
The people of Europe are clearly demanding that we develop a revitalized European defense posture. According to the European Commission, 71% of EU citizens believe that the bloc must strengthen its ability to produce military equipment, while 77% support a common defense and security policy.
**A New Mandate**
This gives European leaders a mandate to think and act boldly. But how long will it take to restore peace to Ukraine and stability to Europe? I believe we must act on the basis of three assumptions: first, this is a war of a former imperial metropole against what it regards as a mutinous colony; second, for the invading country to start negotiating in good faith, it must conclude that the invasion was a mistake; third, colonial wars are usually finished by a different group of leaders than those who started the fighting.
Yes, boosting European defense capabilities while supporting Ukraine will cost money. But we can certainly do more. As we reinvigorate Europe’s defenses, we must not lose sight of why we’re doing it: we’re acting for our own safety, not to undermine transatlantic relations but to improve them.
**Conclusion**
Europe faces an existential crisis. We have a choice to make – to take control of our own security or to risk marginalization. Let us seize this opportunity to become a heavyweight competitor on the global stage and ensure our own safety in the process.
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