European Defence: Counting Dollars or Defending Values

Today, not only Russia is stepping up its hybrid attacks against European states, but the American ally also considers the EU’s trade surplus and digital regulations to be intolerable. Moreover, it has vowed to make the EU pay for its military protection far beyond what it already does. As if that were not enough, Donald Trump is now negotiating a ceasefire in Ukraine over the heads of the Ukrainians and the Europeans. It would seem that there is a conjunction of struggles against the very existence of the European Union, which is under attack both from the right, by Russia, and from the centre, by the United States.

What can we do? Attack in our turn, as General Foch advocated in a completely different situation? But who and how? Or continue to suffer as we have always done, with “self-control” and “pragmatism”, in other words, give in?

In this feverish vigil, three questions are stirring up discussions in the European capital: do we really need to spend much more on our national defences? Should we buy even more military equipment from the United States? Finally, should we prepare to abandon Ukraine?