Europe is confronting a question that would once have seemed unthinkable: whether it can still rely on others for its security at all.
From Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East to intensifying rivalry between the US and China, the European Union finds itself exposed in a world increasingly defined by hard power rather than rules-based cooperation.
“For the first time in living memory, we are truly alone together,” former Italian prime minister Mario Draghi said last week, capturing a growing sense of unease in European capitals.
The sentiment reflects a broader shift in strategic thinking, as governments across the continent reassess long-held assumptions about security, alliances and economic stability.
That reassessment is already visible in defence spending. EU member states have increased military budgets steadily since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, with combined spending reaching around €739 billion this year.
