Weekly Wisdom | America + EU
Why We Need Each Other
As of this writing, the wars involving Iran and Russia continue to escalate, while China waits in the shadows for an opportunity to reunify with Taiwan. The world is becoming more dangerous as our allies weaken and our adversaries grow stronger. In this environment, it is imperative that the United States and the European Union strengthen their transatlantic alliance to deter the dictatorships and autocracies that threaten the free world. The West cannot afford to fail.
Where things stand:
The United States and the European Union have a combined GDP of approximately $54.3 trillion, representing about 44% of global economic output. Just as importantly, these two economic powerhouses account for roughly one-third of global manufacturing, making their combined industrial output comparable to that of China.
As the United States enters a new era of strategic competition with China, it is critical that America and its closest allies rebuild a resilient defense-industrial base. That means expanding manufacturing capacity, securing critical supply chains, increasing weapons and ammunition production, and ensuring that the democratic world can independently produce the technologies and equipment necessary to deter aggression.
In addition to China, the United States and its allies face a resurgent Russia, a capable North Korea, and an adversarial Iran. In this increasingly dangerous geopolitical environment, NATO remains indispensable for projecting military power, deterring aggression, and defending the West’s vital strategic interests.
Fortunately, President Trump has secured commitments from European NATO allies to significantly increase defense spending and rebuild their military capabilities. A stronger, more capable Europe will enhance NATO’s collective deterrence, distribute the burden of defense more equitably among allies, and strengthen the alliance’s ability to respond to future threats.
The second Trump administration has experienced several points of friction with America's European allies, including disagreements over the conflicts involving Iran and Russia, trade policy, immigration, defense spending, and President Trump's proposal that the United States acquire Greenland. In addition, the European Union has faced criticism from many American policymakers and technology leaders over its regulatory approach toward major technology companies, as well as concerns about the implications of some of its digital speech regulations for freedom of expression.
The rapid economic development of many countries in the Global South, coupled with the increasingly adversarial posture of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, means the United States cannot go it alone—either militarily or economically. As frustrating as our European allies can sometimes be, America and Europe need one another if the democratic world is to successfully compete with China in what many describe as a new Cold War. With smart diplomacy and a willingness to compromise, the transatlantic partnership can continue to provide both economic prosperity and collective security in an increasingly dangerous and competitive world.
