Europe Needs <i>Less</i> Defence Cooperation

Following Donald Trump’s election as US president in 2024, which cast doubt on US security commitments, European leaders renewed calls for deeper defence cooperation to deter Russia. Yet multinational efforts often increase political and bureaucratic complexity, delaying decision-making and capability development. Previously, Europe could accept this trade-off because funding was the scarcest resource, and sacrificing speed and autonomy in exchange for cost savings and shared capabilities was considered paramount. Now, however, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Washington’s increasing scepticism towards European defence have turned time into the critical factor. Time has become Europe’s new ‘currency’ of defence, and militaries must rapidly enhance their capabilities in a far more volatile environment. Rather than abandoning cooperation, European countries – especially the front-line states – should undertake urgent national preparations first, then integrate and coordinate within NATO or European Union structures, balancing immediate speed with longer-term collective-security objectives.<br/>