The recent crisis related to the potential annexation of Greenland vividly demonstrated how the European Union has come under pressure from Donald Trump. Despite its economic and political power, the EU has been unable to provide an adequate response to these challenges, allowing the Trump administration to take advantage of the situation, as reported by Der Spiegel.
According to the publication, the actions of European leaders, including their obsequious behavior towards Trump and unilateral trade concessions, have only confirmed his belief that pressure can be applied to Europe. A recent example is the threat of imposing tariffs on goods from certain EU countries in exchange for a "deal" regarding Greenland, which is a territory of Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States.
Although Washington later dismissed these threats, doubts about the reliability of such promises persist in Europe. Trump openly states his expectations for "voluntary concessions" from European countries, perceiving refusal as hostility.
Partnership with the USA in Question
Der Spiegel emphasizes that under Trump's leadership, the USA has lost its status as a reliable partner for Europe. His foreign policy, based on pressure and blackmail, aligns him with tactics typical of countries like Russia and China.Over time, Europe has become significantly dependent on the United States, losing key elements of its strategic independence. The EU lacks modern fifth-generation fighters comparable to American ones, has no unified defense policy, and lacks technologies capable of competing with the USA in the fields of AI and digital platforms.
Defense: Europe's Vulnerability
The defense sector remains particularly weak. Most European states purchase American weapons, including F-35 fighters, which, experts claim, could be blocked by the USA in the event of a political conflict.The armed forces of European countries are fragmented and use nearly 180 different types of weapons, while the USA operates only 30 main systems. This creates serious problems in the event of the need to coordinate actions in a major conflict.
Experts strongly advocate for the necessity of radical changes:
- the creation of a unified mechanism for arms procurement;
- abandoning the principle of unanimity on defense issues;
- establishing a full-fledged European military command.
Nuclear Security and New Architecture
The issue of nuclear deterrence also requires attention. Hopes for the American "nuclear umbrella" under Trump are perceived in Europe as an illusion. The possibility of either expanding the French nuclear shield to cover the entire EU or forming a new coalition of key countries—Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Poland, and Ukraine—to ensure collective security is being discussed.Although both ideas remain legally complex and politically sensitive, the authors of the article emphasize that inaction only exacerbates Europe's vulnerability to blackmail from nuclear Russia.
Economic Power Without Adequate Strength
Nevertheless, the EU possesses significant leverage that it has yet to utilize. Its economy ranks second in the world, the market comprises about 450 million consumers, and its GDP exceeds 18 trillion euros.Der Spiegel indicates that the USA is heavily dependent on the European market, especially in the field of digital services. Approximately 68% of software in the EU is purchased from American companies, and the EU's trade deficit in services with the USA reaches about 95 billion dollars annually.
The authors emphasize that Silicon Valley is heavily reliant on the European market, which is a lever that the EU hardly uses.
Possible measures include:
- strict application of European digital standards to American platforms and sanctions for violations;
- introduction of a digital tax as a tool for pressure on tech giants;
- more independent financial policy, including increasing the role of the euro in international transactions.
Among possible steps, the translation of calculations in international trade to euros, reconsideration of the role of the dollar, repatriation of European gold reserves from the USA, and using the EU's financial infrastructure as a political tool are also mentioned.
At the same time, Europe has sensitive levers of influence. One of them is the SWIFT payment system, located in Belgium and servicing banks in more than 200 countries. Another is the gold and currency reserves, among which Germany holds about 1,236 tons of gold in the USA, with a market value of around 180 billion euros.
How Trump May Change Europe
The publication concludes that Europe is in the most dangerous position since the Cold War. However, Trump's policy may serve as a catalyst for the renewal of the EU. His actions make right-populist parties in Europe, which previously supported Washington, less appealing. In Germany and France, it is becoming increasingly difficult for the far-right to justify their sympathies for the US president, who openly threatens European sovereignty.
Der Spiegel emphasizes that Europe faces a choice: to continue a policy of concessions and risk becoming a dependent vassal of the USA or, for the first time since the end of World War II, to build a full-fledged strategic autonomy in defense, economy, and technology.
According to the authors, abandoning illusions, deepening political integration, and readiness for tough decisions is the only way for the EU to withstand the conditions being shaped under Donald Trump.
