War and Peace in the 21st Century "Defending Europe without the United States? The future of the European security"

The second term of Donald Trump as President of the United States has profoundly shaken transatlantic relations. Beyond trade and diplomacy, the most pressing rupture lies in security and defence. Washington no longer guarantees its military and strategic support for Europe, and even threatens to annex Greenland, questioning the validity of the NATO Treaty. The challenge is not merely technical or financial. It is existential.

European defence is driven by different strategic cultures, fragmented policies, capabilities and industries, unequal military spending and divergent threat perceptions. It also needs to build trust among citizens and allies to develop the necessary capacities to act decisively and independently, if needed. In a world of rising geopolitical tensions, from Russia’s threat to instability in the Middle East, Venezuela and the Sahel, Europe cannot remain vulnerable or overly dependent.

Will Europe rise to the occasion, or will it falter in the face of uncertainty and tectonic shifts across the Atlantic? What capabilities should it develop to ensure credible deterrence and rapid response? Should NATO remain Europe’s defence framework, albeit with a different US contribution? And perhaps most critically, is there enough political will among EU leaders to invest in a common defence framework? The coming years will define whether Europe can transform into a true geopolitical actor, or remain a soft power in a hardening world. 

Full programme of the event available soon.