In 2025, Donald J. Trump became President of the United States for the second time. Since then, the United States has seen the greatest number of reversals in its stances and initiatives in history. 

Domestically, immigrants have borne the brunt of Trump’s fury, but his impacts have also been felt across many dimensions internationally. In a year, he has already pulled out of the Paris Agreement, placed unequal tariffs on nearly every nation, kidnapped a president, launched strikes on foreign land, interfered in unrelated wars, and threatened to annex Greenland. 

You, me, and everyone else on this little island might be halfway across the globe from where all this chaos unfolds. Yet, we can still hear the eruption of a volcano once lain dormant for decades. 

And things must be many, many, many times worse for its neighbour across the ocean. 

Over 80 years ago, Europe and the USA entered onto a steadfast relationship, becoming the closest of allies against the USSR. 

Now, it teeters upon the brink of collapse, every little quake threatening to bring everything down. 

So how did we get here? What shaped its existing stance to the US, and should they implement any countermeasures in return? 

In the 20^th century, global politics was defined by fundamental ideological rivalries of competing nation states, chiefly the capitalist democracy USA against communist USSR during a hypertense Cold War era. With much of the world rebuilding from the disastrous ruins of the World War II, these two superpowers, with their immense resources and technological innovations, sought to direct world order, and by extension, promote geopolitically significant policies in its sphere of influence to benefit its foreign agenda. These led to proxy wars where small scale regional skirmishes were sparked and sustained by opposing superpowers in attempt to influence world order and project their power. Prominent examples were the Vietnam War and Korean War, where their competing influences were plastered upon unknown populations in a distant land. They aimed to cascade power imbalances to topple those they deemed the enemy, and spared no effort in making their own side shine like a flawless gem. Even amidst the cruelty, the Cold War showed us how a bipolar world will inherently hold governments and their policies accountable in a volatile international playground.  

After the collapse of the USSR near the turn of century, the USA’s hegemony began to see the light of day. Establishing a global order that altered power dynamics in a post-USSR world set the stage for the modern “New World Order”. Since then, the striking feature of American military defense spending and military base networks has been simply unparalleled to its allies. Expanding its military bases to key locations worldwide, as well as establishing the United States Dollar as a primary reserve currency in today’s economy allowed American interest to partake in geopolitical discussions. Previous administrations also sought to hold financial support for international organizations that allowed it to exert soft power over. 

The long-standing partnership between the US and Europe has been for the most part, under the protective “nuclear umbrella” of America and the economic framework of the Bretton Woods system. However, as of 2026, the bedrock of this transatlantic alliance is experiencing seismic shifts. With the U.S. pivoting toward domestic protectionism and a strategic focus on the Indo-Pacific, Europe faces an existential question: Is it time to trade the security of American dominance for the risks of strategic autonomy? 

But what about from the other perspective? 

After World War II, Europe fell. It was a winner of the war, yet it lost disastrously. Colonies were leaving, the economy was in shambles, basic supplies were lacking, and its politics had been split in twain. 

The United States quickly drafted up the Marshall Plan in response, eventually evolving into the Mutual Security Act. These offered large-scale financial aid for rebuilding and modernisation, alongside military and technical assistance. Below the text, their intention was clear: integrate Europe into the US economy and open up trade, all while putting soft and hard power against Communism. There was no reason or way for non-Soviet Europe to refuse, even despite their concerns.  

Some feared sabotage, dependency, forced ideologies, or putting the US first. But with it being the only torch in a lightless cave, they relented. 

Looking back, their fears had come true, albeit much further into the future. 

From then on, with the unique advantages and rapid advancement in the United States, Europe never truly caught up. Yet in an era strikingly reminiscent of the Cold War, their closest ally had turned and stabbed them in the back, all for a single island. 

Where the Marshall Plan once was, now stands a threat to seize Greenland by force. 

With such a dramatic shift in American priorities, Europe is now at a crossroads. Is it time to continue relying on the United States for security and economic stability, or is it time to seek greater strategic autonomy? 

Luckily for Europe, America’s betrayal is not the only difference. 

Europe is now able to stand by itself, shaky but nonetheless upright. The European Union exists as a consolidated and powerful entity. Its economy has grown with many local cutting-edge companies. A new major power has emerged from the East, providing a fleeting opportunity left in its wake. 

And, the sandglass of time has only just begun to tip. 

Even with the desolate landscape around the world, it is still far from being too late to get back up for round two. 

The first glaring issue they face is the power dynamic. The world used to always operate upon a so-called “rules-based order”, but that was never genuinely true. There always was one glaring exception, from the very same one which introduced it: the United States. No one ever stood up to it because it helped their goals, and they lacked the power to survive doing so. 

It is only now that it rears its ugly head at Europe and the World. Yet it is precisely now that Europe can start standing up to it too. 

The US is suffering from major internal strife, draining resources internally. Its economy is doing much worse with Trump’s decisions, alongside international relations and reputation. Its investments have had their direction flipped, pointing to the past (coal and military) instead of the future (green energy and research). And it is struggling to deal with a new face: China. 

The United States, with all its institutional flaws bared, has proven itself unfit to be deemed the one country towering above all. So, why still pretend that it is and depend on it for everything from defence to manufacturing? 

This extends beyond simple physical items too. Digital sovereignty should also be pursued. Just look at how access to Microsoft services was revoked for International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan due to sanctions by the Trump Administration. Initiating the use of locally managed online infrastructure would be a good deterrence against the US and other major powers from digitally blackmailing Europeans. 

Another key initiative would be to enact stricter rules for global organisations. Trump already intends on blacklisting many countries from attending the United Nations 2026 General Assembly, by way of banning their visas. While Europe is largely unaffected yet, there is no reason to assume they won’t be next. 

The US has also left many different international organisations like the WHO, the UN Human Rights Council, the Global Counter-Terrorism Forum, and the International Energy Forum, among many others. 

This is especially egregious being the founder of most of these organisations, all while they request funding from other member nations. 

For any international organisation to truly prosper, there should not be a country above all rules. Everyone should be equal in the eyes of the legislation passed. And should one withdraw their membership from something so important, surely there must be consequences for them. 

In this aspect, compared to other global superpowers, Europe is additionally disadvantaged by not being a single entity. Every individual state would have to take identical action for such a manoeuvre, which would range from being clunky to outright impossible. 

And the laws themselves are in dire needs of changes too. Loopholes have been so thoroughly abused that they’ve become torn to shreds. Major transgressions are overlooked because no one bothers updating them or standing up to their “justice”. 

Yet above all else, there is one more thing that it must overcome: itself. 

To even stand a chance of having a shared future, Europe must learn how to do so together. Internal divisions and disputes, like defence spending, foreign policy, and economic priorities, must be mended. 

In Ukraine, the military and economic aid provided by the USA has become its greatest negotiating piece to getting its rare earth minerals and personal agendas. Autarky in its military must be achieved, without (or even to act against) the “nuclear umbrella” once provided by the US. Only then can they truly forge a united front free from foreign interference.  

Independence must also be believed by everyone before it can be believed by themselves. Not begging for the US to stay in Ukraine to fight their war, not acquiescing to simple tariffs, and most certainly not messy breakups from the EU. Europe has to stand firm together and commit action. Showcasing its unwillingness to be browbeaten will inevitably motivate citizens and governors alike. 

Over the years, there have been countless initiatives proposed by them to reduce dependency on the United States, yet nearly all remain far from entelechy. From military and technology to energy and trade, many were forgotten or even had a countereffect on their dependence. It was fine for them to stumble then, but the sandglass has already tipped over now. Whilst the hour remains golden, concrete action must be taken for concrete results. 

Europe may have had thousands of years’ worth of experience with empires, but the world’s order has already evolved. In 2026, 80 years since it has taken a back seat in the world, it is high time for it to rebalance every partnership, to embark on a new conquest, together.