The Conversation Weekly How Europe dropped the ball on its own defence
Jul 3, 2025
Join Laura Hood, a Politics editor at The Conversation, and Ana E. Juncos, a European politics professor at the University of Bristol, as they dissect Europe's defense shortcomings. They discuss how Europe's reliance on the U.S. has led to a lack of independent military capabilities and the implications of NATO's new spending commitments. The conversation sheds light on France's defense strategy, the growing support for a common European army, and the pressing need for EU nations to collaborate amid rising geopolitical tensions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Europe's Dependence on US Defense
- Europe relies heavily on the US for defense, but the US might withdraw or reduce its support in the future.
- European states are still coming to terms with this potential shift and adjusting policies cautiously.
Failed Early European Defense Unity
- Early efforts for a unified European defense failed due to national sovereignty concerns, especially after the French assembly rejected the European Defence Community.
- Since then, NATO became the main structure for collective defense, sidelining EU defense integration efforts.
Post-Cold War US Reliance
- After the Cold War, Europe leaned heavily on the US, relying on its military guarantees and cutting defense budgets.
- This dependency grew, making European nations reluctant to pursue true strategic autonomy for fear of alienating the US.