The Vasalisation of Europe

The new NATO goal of increasing military spending to 5% of GDP by 2035 has heightened concerns over Europe's growing dependency on the American defense industry.

With a focus on interoperability - standardizing military systems for joint operations - many European countries are expected to purchase military equipment worth hundreds of billions from American companies. This approach echoes Trump's longstanding criticism of underinvestment in European military, a demand that initially seemed unfounded but has now been institutionalized in NATO policy.

The deep ties between European elites and the American economy and Wall Street are often hidden under diplomatic formalities.

European investors collectively own a significant portion of the American stock market, a financial commitment that could turn sour if transatlantic relations were severed.

While some, like French President Emmanuel Macron, advocate for a more independent EU, nothing has yet happened in practice. Most European leaders, like Merz or former central bank chief Mario Draghi in Italy, continue to align their policies with U.S. hegemony, whether it concerns war or trade.

The result is a Europe that is more economically and militarily subordinated to the U.S., with the industry facing two fronts against China and Russia.

A Call for European Reevaluation?

Trump's presidency, despite its caricature-like bravado, exposed the transactional and sometimes exploitative nature of U.S.-European cooperation. It's uncertain whether this is a turning point for European sovereignty. The continent's political class, increasingly intertwined with the U.S.'s economic interests, may resist radical changes that threaten their wealth and status quo.

But the long-term viability of a Europe content with a subordinate status under the U.S. umbrella remains questionable.

As the EU faces deindustrialization, energy dependency, and a fractured world order, many citizens and analysts await leadership willing to prioritize domestic prosperity over transatlantic loyalty.

Until then, the “art of vassalization” remains a dominant theme in the 21st-century geopolitical discourse.