How Europe Lost Its Appeal

Neville Chamberlain and his piece of paper - https://www.bbc.com/historyofthebbc/anniversaries/september/chamberlain-returns-from-munich

Since last week, when the Munich Conference ended, the media has been filled with discussions about what the U.S. envoys—Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—had to teach European countries, their politicians, and their societies. Meanwhile, as the sober Defense Secretary dictated how to handle Russia and how Ukraine should be divided, Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, the U.S. Secretary of State, were preparing bilateral negotiations to end the Russia-Ukraine war. All of this occurred without the EU's involvement, despite the war being fought on European soil, and without heed to Ukraine's position, despite the war being in its own territory as well. Vice President JD Vance's speech was embarrassing not for him and the U.S. but, most importantly, for European nations and governance.

It was a lecture on how democracy should function and what Europe must do to protect itself from threats. Some high-ranking European representatives even applauded— despite the fact that they were being mocked. This moment starkly illustrated Europe's fragility and willingness to be a subservient enforcer for another country, particularly the United States, which continually dictates European policies and behaviour. Unfortunately, they are right. Europe today can be seen as a peripheral player, lacking innovation policies and lagging in several key sectors of the global economy. Rather than pushing back against the Vice President's condescending remarks, most EU countries remained silent and, in some cases, even expressed support.

Europe's so called far-right and conservative parties have deep ties to the U.S. and appear increasingly dependent on Trump's international policies and initiatives. Despite President Trump signing an executive order to impose tariffs on European goods, European leaders have barely reacted. As Mario Draghi wisely put it, European statesmen and rulers "say no to everything"—except when foreign powers dictate their actions, beliefs, and democratic principles. During a meeting at NATO, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth further underscored Europe's declining influence on the international stage. He unilaterally outlined what Ukraine can and cannot do and what its future will look like—repeating positions already stated by the EU and the previous Biden administration. His remarks did not introduce any groundbreaking solutions but instead served as a blatant demonstration of American supremacy and control over European affairs. It is true that the U.S., particularly under a different administration, has been Ukraine's primary supporter, alongside the UK. However, if the U.S. wishes to withdraw its support, it should not decide Europe's or Ukraine's fate unilaterally. European leaders fail to recognize that, within their continent, decisions should be made by one of the world's most advanced and democratic entities—the European Union. Nevertheless, the current trajectory suggests otherwise. What prevents Europe from reclaiming its influence and playing a leading role in its region and other critical areas, such as artificial intelligence, economic diplomacy, and global governance? Ironically, the rise of far-right parties across Europe is a significant contributing factor. Historically, conservative parties prioritized national sovereignty, self-reliance, and resistance to foreign interference. However, today's far-right movements seem eager to follow external leadership—and they have found their f igurehead in Donald Trump and his allies. This dependence comes at a cost. Many European far-right governments now resemble the periphery or even “the backyard of the United States”. When the Vice President of another country delivers a speech at a crucial and historically significant event like the Munich Conference—reminiscent of the infamous 1938 conference that led to the appeasement of Nazi Germany—during a time of war, Europe should be deeply concerned about what lies ahead. In today's geopolitical landscape, Europe cannot afford to be relegated to the role of a subordinate to an ultra-conservative U.S. administration. The two entities have fundamentally different approaches to international relations, economic policies, human rights, and global trade. If the EU does not assert its path, as Draghi warns, it will not only lose its relevance but will collapse under its indecisiveness, controlled by external powers. Draghi's words offer some good suggestion: "We can regain the ability to defend our interests. Furthermore, we can give hope to our people. The national governments and parliaments of our continent, the European Commission and Parliament, are called to be the guardians of this hope at a turning point in Europe's history. If united, we will rise to the challenge and succeed.

If recent statements outline our future, we can expect to be left largely alone to ensure security in Ukraine and Europe itself… The EU will face tariffs from the new U.S. administration in the coming months, hampering our access to our largest export market. Higher U.S. tariffs on China will redirect Chinese overcapacity into Europe, further affecting European companies…Since the report was published, the changes that have taken place are broadly in line with the trends outlined there. However, the sense of urgency to undertake the radical change that the report advocated has become even stronger. For now, most of the progress is still taking place outside Europe. Eight of the current top ten major language models were developed in the United States, while the other two come from China."

The question remains: will Europe heed this warning and reclaim its sovereignty, or will it continue down the path of submission?