Europe is rearming and reordering itself, drifting from the United States following perceived humiliation and disparagement by the Trump administration since 2025. Europeans now recognize surrounding dangers, leading to increased investment in military resources and a willingness to serve in armed forces, forging a new grand strategy. Polling shows 77 percent of Europeans view Russia’s war in Ukraine as a direct threat, and only 11 percent across 15 surveyed countries consider the U.S.
an ally, down from 22 percent in November 2024. This insecurity drives support for military buildups, collective EU defense borrowing (47 percent), and reducing dependence on U.S. military hardware. Germany, now the world’s fourth-largest military spender, plans to spend $172 billion by 2029. Countries like Germany, Croatia, and Sweden are reinstating mandatory military service. Europe is also boosting its military-industrial capacity, with initiatives like Quantum Frontline Industries. This transformation aims for a pragmatic partnership with the U.S. and the emergence of overlapping European security institutions, including the British-led Joint Expeditionary Force and a French-led "advanced deterrence" initiative.
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