The escalating shift in US foreign policy, particularly highlighted by Donald Trump’s evolving security strategy slated for 2025, is forcing a critical reassessment of European security architecture, according to Manfred Weber, leader of the European People’s Party (EPP) and its parliamentary group. In an interview with Funke-Mediengruppe, Weber painted a stark picture of the EU’s current position, describing Europe as “naked in a cold world full of storms.
Weber’s remarks represent a sharp departure from the traditional reliance on Washington for security guarantees. He argued that the era of shaping EU policy based on American directives must end, emphasizing that future European challenges will require homegrown solutions. “Even after Trump, no American government will solve our problems” he stated, underscoring the need for a distinctly European approach.
While acknowledging nascent steps towards a more robust European defense capability, such as joint procurement of weaponry and the development of a European drone surveillance system, Weber expressed considerable urgency. He advocated for a considerably accelerated pace of integration, explicitly calling for the establishment of “a much larger European army”. This ambition, he conceded, faces significant hurdles, particularly given the continued obstructionist stance of member states like Hungary under Viktor Orbán.
The issue of unanimous decision-making in EU foreign policy, which frequently allows individual nations to block collective action, was also addressed. Weber proposed a workaround, suggesting that a coalition of “self-assured” nations could circumvent this impediment and move forward on crucial security initiatives. This suggestion, however, implicitly highlights the deep divisions within the EU and raises questions about the viability of forging a truly unified European security policy amidst diverging national interests and geopolitical priorities. The call for independence from US influence also carries political weight, potentially exacerbating tensions with Washington while simultaneously demanding greater internal cohesion within the EU itself – a challenge of considerable magnitude.
