The Monocle Daily ICE in Europe, Nato’s role in Afghanistan and the future of transatlantic co-operation
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Jan 28, 2026 Tessa Szyszkowitz, a UK correspondent and commentator on British and European politics, and Sir William Patey, a former ambassador with deep diplomatic and security experience, discuss ICE agents at Milan’s Olympic security, debates over US intelligence and defence reliability, NATO’s role in Afghanistan, and ideas for stronger European defence cooperation.
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ICE Deployment Sparks European Unease
- Sending ICE agents to Milan for the Olympics exposed deep European discomfort with US domestic security tactics being exported abroad.
- Sir William Patey highlights the oddity and reassures listeners ICE will be in a limited, backroom role in Milan.
Europe Needs Independent Defence Capacity
- Europe must build independent defence capabilities instead of relying solely on the US, Sir William Patey argues.
- He calls for massive defence spending and own command-and-control systems to deter Russia effectively.
US Domestic Opinion Drives Policy Shifts
- Domestic US backlash, not European opinion, forced the Trump administration to tone down its rhetoric and ICE plans, Tessa Szyszkowitz and Sir William note.
- They point out Republican voices and public reaction matter more to Washington than transatlantic outrage.