How Security Guarantees Hollowed Out European Defence:The Protection Curse

This article applies the ‘protection curse’ framework to European defence, contending that US security guarantees fostered complacency and weakened military capabilities. By comparing Europe to Gulf monarchies, it shows how prestige platforms have been prioritised over essential logistics. David B Roberts argues that the curse operates psychologically, economically and institutionally, with Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ approach prompting a strategic rethink. True autonomy requires breaking entrenched dependencies – mere spending increases are not enough.