ThinkTankWeekly

How Europe Found Its Nerve

Foreign Affairs | 2026-05-15 | europe

Topics: China, Climate, Europe, Indo-Pacific, Middle East, NATO, Russia, Trade, Ukraine, United States

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English Summary

Following a period of appeasement to the US under a volatile administration, European nations have undergone a strategic pivot toward self-reliance and collective action. This shift was catalyzed by perceived US overreach, prompting Europe to coordinate joint military exercises, activate anti-coercion tools, and establish a collective defense financing program. Economically, the EU is rapidly constructing a parallel trading system through major bilateral deals (e.g., India, Australia), reducing dependence on traditional transatlantic markets. These developments signal that Europe is building a more resilient, sovereign security and economic core, materially altering its geopolitical trajectory toward strategic autonomy.

中文摘要

在經歷了對一個動盪的美國政府的綏靖時期後,歐洲國家已轉向了自立和集體行動的戰略轉型。這一轉變的催化劑是感知到的美國過度干預,促使歐洲協調進行聯合軍事演習、啟動反強制工具,並建立集體防禦融資計劃。在經濟層面,歐盟正透過與主要雙邊夥伴(例如印度、澳洲)達成協議,快速建構一個平行的貿易體系,從而減少對傳統跨大西洋市場的依賴。這些發展表明,歐洲正在建立一個更具韌性、更主權的安全和經濟核心,從根本上改變其地緣政治軌跡,邁向戰略自主。

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