Who will stand up to Russia?

Europe has once again found itself caught between two global powers, the United States and Russia. The continent has lost productivity, weakened militarily, fallen behind in advanced technologies and grown dependent on outside powers across a range of issues.

European states have tried to build greater strategic autonomy and find a balance between Washington and rising powers such as China. But the article argues that these efforts have failed, largely because Europe remains heavily reliant on the United States while facing what it sees as a vital threat from Russia.

The war in Ukraine has sharpened those fears. European countries worry that Russia could attack a European state at any moment, and they have sent large amounts of aid to Ukraine in the belief that this can help keep Russia away from Europe. The conflict has also exposed what the article describes as Europe’s vulnerable position between Washington and Moscow.

The source says the United States itself has increasingly become a source of concern. Donald Trump’s stated intention to take over Danish-owned Greenland, his demand that Europeans provide for their own security, and his questioning of the United Kingdom’s sovereignty over the Falkland Islands have created tension in Europe. The growing rapprochement between Washington and Moscow has added to that unease.

The article questions whether the West remains united against Russia. It says the ties binding the United States and Europe have weakened as their economic, political and military priorities diverge. Washington sees China as its primary threat, while Europe views China as a possible partner and focuses mainly on Russia. The United States, unwilling to lose Russia to China, is seeking to normalize relations with Moscow, further complicating Europe’s strategic position.