Europe seeks strategic autonomy amid renewed transatlantic tensions
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has urged the continent to strengthen its capacity for self-defense and economic resilience, responding to recent criticisms from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Addressing the European Parliament in Strasbourg, she cautioned that the global environment is becoming “more dangerous and transactional,” insisting that Europe must “depend on itself” to safeguard its future.
Von der Leyen said Europe’s security responsibilities could no longer be outsourced. She framed this shift not as isolationist but as an essential step to preserve stability and credibility in an increasingly uncertain world. Her remarks come as European leaders prepare for a high-stakes summit dominated by debates over defense funding, Ukraine support, and trade relations.
Defending Europe’s global footing
Responding to claims that Europe’s decline in global economic share reflects weakness, von der Leyen drew comparisons with the United States, noting that both regions’ shares of global GDP have fallen to similar levels. “This is not about one side of the Atlantic losing ground to the other,” she said. “It is about global economic transformation.”
She highlighted Europe’s shift away from energy dependence on Russia as a symbol of the continent’s capacity for adaptation. Under the REPowerEU program, Russian gas imports were slashed from 45 percent at the start of the war to 13 percent, while coal imports dropped to zero and crude oil imports from Russia fell from 26 percent to 2 percent.
Strategic challenges at the upcoming summit
Before the next EU summit, von der Leyen called on member states to finalize a €90 billion package to support Ukraine over the next two years. She proposed two financing options redirecting frozen Russian assets or new EU-level borrowing and described the decision as “Europe’s most vital act of defense.”
Meanwhile, leaders face a critical choice over the long-delayed Mercosur trade accord with South American partners. France and Italy have pushed for a delay, creating a potential blocking minority against the deal, which has been under negotiation for a quarter of a century.
Looking ahead, von der Leyen underscored the unprecedented scale of European defense investment. The EU aims to allocate €800 billion to defense by 2030, a dramatic rise from just €8 billion in the previous decade. “Europe’s era of independence must be unstoppable,” she declared, framing the moment as a turning point for the continent’s role in global affairs.
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