Washington Ignites Old Europe and German Militarism

The U.S. withdrawal from Ukraine and the broader European theater has exposed Europe’s significant security and defense weaknesses, along with the short-sightedness and lack of long-term planning in relying on a relationship with Washington. Europe’s vulnerability has been laid bare by the swift shift in American interests, leaving Europe dramatically one-sided and unprepared for the change.

The Trump administration’s deal with Putin effectively handed Ukraine back to Russia in exchange for neutrality and political influence, with the potential for an alliance against China.

Now, Europeans face not only the prospect of a U.S. withdrawal but also the potential dismantling of NATO and the United Nations, part of America’s broader reorganization of the post-World War II international order. This shift is reflected in Elon Musk’s recent remarks, which suggested that the current global framework no longer serves America’s contemporary interests.

As a result, European powers find themselves in a position reminiscent of “old Europe”—a place where rivalries and divisions have been reignited.

The British, caught in the middle, are attempting to balance their post-WWII policy and maintain relevance by aligning with the United States. However, Washington has long signaled its unwillingness to tolerate Britain’s “leeching” of American resources, as evidenced by recent remarks from U.S. Vice President, mocking Britain’s peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine.

Britain has also tried to reassert itself within Europe as a security partner, but the scars of Brexit and historical tensions with the French—who pursued a different post-WWII vision of a United Europe under French leadership—are still fresh. France’s vision aimed to counterbalance both the United States and the Soviet Union.

Both the U.S. and Britain worked tirelessly to prevent the realization of a European political, military, and defense union. Today, the French see Washington’s withdrawal and Britain’s exit from the EU as an opportunity to finally realize their vision of a unified European defense and military force. This shift is evident in the contrasting positions of Keir Starmer and French President Macron, who both visited Washington. After meeting with Trump, Macron boldly declared that France would not become a “vassal” of the United States.

However, with Britain now outside the EU, the main obstacle to the French vision remains the “German Question.” As Europe’s dominant economic power, Germany is shedding its post-WWII military restraints. With a significant increase in military spending—previously pursued under the umbrella of European defense—Germany is now capitalizing on the Ukraine crisis and Washington’s exit to assert itself as a military power.

But old fault lines are resurfacing. Nationalism and mistrust among European nations are once again rising, and with the loss of Washington’s and NATO’s protective umbrella, these divisions are primed to reignite. Germany and other European nations have already rejected France’s attempts to assert leadership, particularly the proposal for a French nuclear umbrella. Moreover, America’s interference in German politics—by backing the far-right AfD party—signals that the U.S. is not leaving Europe to unite but rather to fragment it. This strategy aims to keep Europe weak, divided, and incapable of challenging American global objectives.

At the core of Europe’s dilemma is the need to prevent the outbreak of World War III—a conflict that has historically originated on this continent. This is why America established security frameworks like NATO, originally designed to keep Germany “down” and France “out.”

It’s also why Trump frequently warned of the potential for WWIII in his interactions with Ukrainian President Zelensky, pressuring him to capitulate to both U.S. and Russian demands.

Now, with Poland considering acquiring nuclear weapons in response to Washington’s abdication of Europe, America’s strategy in “Old Europe” is clear. It is a deliberate plan to destabilize the European Union and plunge Europe into an existential crisis. With Russia at its doorstep, Europe’s ability to challenge America’s global ambitions and its movement toward further global hegemony is severely compromised.