Story perspectives

European Leaders Slam US Strategy, Urge Independence

12/10/2025

Summary

Europe Condemns U.S. Strategy

European leaders condemn the United States (U.S.) National Security Strategy as interference, with EU Council President António Costa calling Europe’s position 'civilizational erasure' and saying the U.S. would dictate politics.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Europe must be less dependent on the U.S. and manage democratic processes.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledges criticisms but reaffirms the U.S. as Europe's primary ally.
Strategy’s tone raises alarms about transatlantic relations.

Summary

Rufo Urges European Rearmament

France's Junior Army Minister Alice Rufo said on December 9, 2025 that Europe must accelerate rearmament due to a shift in U.S. doctrine.
She described the U.S. National Security Strategy as "an extremely brutal clarification" of its ideological stance, alarming European leaders.
The strategy warns of civilisation erasure in Europe and calls for cultivating resistance within the EU, while Rufo notes ongoing debates on Russia.

History

Historical Context

The 2017 U.S. National Security Strategy marked a shift towards prioritizing American interests, alarming European leaders. By 2018, 70% of Germans viewed the U.S. as an unreliable ally, prompting EU officials like António Costa to advocate for increased European autonomy and rearmament. This trend signals a potential realignment in transatlantic relations as Europe seeks to redefine its security strategies independently.

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Europe Condemns U.S. Strategy

European leaders condemn the United States (U.S.) National Security Strategy as interference, with EU Council President António Costa calling Europe’s position 'civilizational erasure' and saying the U.S. would dictate politics.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz says Europe must be less dependent on the U.S. and manage democratic processes.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas acknowledges criticisms but reaffirms the U.S. as Europe's primary ally.
Strategy’s tone raises alarms about transatlantic relations.

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