European leaders have spent months trying to manage President Trump through flattery and accommodation. The strategy isn’t working. The more Europe bows to Trump, the more it is taken for granted.
The Failed Strategy
Trump’s approach to European allies has become increasingly transactional and dismissive. State visits to the Oval Office now resemble scenes of subservience, with leaders hoping to avoid vilification and tariffs through praise rather than policy.
This hesitation stems from fear: fear Trump will walk away from NATO, fear of retaliation, fear of being blamed should the US disengage from Europe altogether.
Trump’s National Security Strategy
The Trump administration released its National Security Strategy in 2025, and the 33-page document confirms Europe’s worst fears. The strategy emphasizes economic nationalism, prioritizing American interests over multilateral cooperation and international institutions.
The document represents a fundamental shift from traditional American commitment to defending global order. It signals deliberate disengagement from Europe while seeking improved relations with Russia.
The Zelensky Meeting
Trump’s treatment of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in February 2025 demonstrated this shift. The Oval Office meeting devolved into a shouting match, with Trump and Vice President JD Vance berating Zelensky as “disrespectful”.
The exchange was described as “unlike any other in the Oval Office in modern times,” with Trump accusing Ukraine of “gambling with world war three”. Europe showed extraordinary patience, giving Trump space to end the war. What became clear is how differently Washington and Europe interpret Russia’s threat.
The Alaska Summit
Trump and Putin met at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska on August 15, 2025. The summit lasted approximately three hours and focused on the Russia-Ukraine war.
The meeting marked Putin’s first visit to the United States in a decade. Both leaders described the talks as “constructive” but yielded no tangible deal. The optics alone brought Putin back from diplomatic isolation even as Ukraine fights for survival.
The 28-Point Plan
A 28-point US-backed peace plan for Ukraine was released in November 2025. The plan requires sweeping territorial concessions to Russia, significant reductions to Ukraine’s military, and a commitment that Ukraine would not join NATO.
The plan was written without Ukrainian or European input and reads more like a Russian wish list than a credible attempt at peace. Proposals are unacceptable to Kyiv and to Europe alike.
Russia’s War Machine
Each month of delay has given Putin strategic space to evolve his invasion into a sustained war machine. Russia’s 2025 defense budget reached approximately $140-145 billion, representing a 40% increase in defense spending.
Russia now operates a full wartime economy with round-the-clock weapons production. Russia produces more ammunition monthly than the United States and Europe combined.
Grey-Zone Attacks on the UK
Russia has escalated grey-zone attacks against NATO countries, including the UK. These include cyber operations, with Russian cyber-attacks against NATO states increasing by 25% over the past year.
The Russian spy ship Yantar has been probing near undersea cables off the British coast and recently directed lasers at RAF aircraft. Left unchecked, these will escalate further, likely culminating in a major deniable attack on critical UK infrastructure.
The Strategic Reality
America is stepping back from global leadership and aligning with Europe’s chief adversary. The world has entered a new era on security, and Europe has been dithering to Washington’s tune for too long.
The world has not been this dangerous since World War II. Yet this upheaval comes precisely when American commitment to defending global order is being deliberately dismantled.
It is time to break from this flawed approach and rewrite Europe’s own security strategy. It is time to give Ukraine the full capability required to reclaim its territory and prevent an emboldened Russia from dragging Europe into wider conflict.
Anything less is abdication.
