Europe strives for strategic independence under Trump’s shadow

European leaders are increasingly vocal in pushing back against President Donald Trump’s demands, yet they continue to struggle to translate rhetoric into decisive action. Last week, officials convened in Brussels for an emergency summit to weigh potential countermeasures against the United States, reflecting both growing ambition and persistent limitations, The New York Times reports.

To appease Trump in the short term, European leaders are exploring ways to bolster Arctic security. Simultaneously, they are seeking to reduce long-term reliance on Washington by diversifying trade, strengthening militaries, and decreasing dependence on American technology. However, no practical plan yet exists for Europe to achieve rapid military autonomy, while fragmented financial systems and slow, divided decision-making hinder progress on ambitious projects.

“The past few weeks have made it painfully clear that the European Union often drifts on waves created by others, that we are too dependent on factors beyond our control and have not built on our strengths enough,” Prime Minister Bart De Wever of Belgium said following the Brussels dinner.

Germany and Italy jointly produced a policy paper after a meeting between Finance Minister Christian Lindner and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, signaling both a desire for strategic independence and the obstacles in realizing it. The document calls for cutting regulations and stimulating investment, including steps toward a single continental capital market and a Pan-European stock exchange, in preparation for the next informal EU leaders’ meeting on February 12. Officials emphasized that “we need more ambition, more focus, and more speed” in diversifying relationships.

Trade has been a concrete focus. European leaders recently announced a long-sought agreement with India, aimed at opening markets beyond the United States and securing supply chains for semiconductors, rare earths, and technology products. This, officials hope, will increase Europe’s leverage in dealing with US trade pressures.

Arctic security initiatives are also accelerating. A NATO-led operation, potentially named “Arctic Sentry,” would extend maritime surveillance and drone reconnaissance, with French, Swedish, Italian, and British forces adapting operations for the region. Yet officials acknowledge that discussions are in early stages and that divisions among NATO members—such as Türkiye and Canada—may slow progress.

“Everyone has got national interests, but we need to be cautious about what and how we do things, and say and communicate things,” General Karel Rehka, chief of the Czech armed forces, said. Priorities remain contested, with countries near Ukraine viewing Arctic defence as secondary. As Rosa Balfour of Carnegie Europe noted, “Ukraine is the priority.”

For now, Europeans continue to rely on patience while awaiting clarity from the US Denmark and Greenland remain open to proposals expanding American presence without ceding sovereignty, with Jon Rahbek-Clemmensen of the Center for Arctic Security Studies noting, “The problem for the Americans is that there’s been a lot of stick, but it’s very vague what the carrot is.”

By Vafa Guliyeva