A leading voice in European security has delivered a stark warning about the continent’s vulnerability, emphasizing a self-imposed weakness in its foreign policy posture. Wolfgang Ischinger, former chair of the Munich Security Conference, stated that the recent NATO summit underscored Europe’s continued and dramatic dependence on the United States, highlighting the potentially catastrophic consequences should Washington choose to disengage.
Ischinger cautioned that a withdrawal of US support would leave Europe “completely defenseless” due to a lack of independent capabilities such as satellite reconnaissance and air defense. He attributed this situation to “over 30 years of neglect” regarding European defense capabilities, bluntly characterizing it as “the naked truth.
The NATO-agreed target of allocating five percent of GDP to defense has been hailed by Ischinger as “a good decision” stressing that it is fundamentally about European security and not about appeasing any single political figure. He urged Germany and its NATO allies to systematically reduce this asymmetric reliance on the US, facilitating Europe’s ability to safeguard itself.
Ischinger expressed concern that the current security landscape allows nations like Qatar, with significantly smaller populations, to wield considerably more geopolitical influence than the collective strength of 450 million Europeans. He argued that it is “irresponsible” for such a large population to fail to prioritize its own security.
He further lamented the humbling experience of being relegated to the sidelines by US President Donald Trump, asserting that Europe’s lack of a unified voice in the Middle East, its inability to confront President Trump or China and its silence regarding Russia, are directly responsible for its diminished standing on the world stage. He stressed the necessity of a stronger, more unified European approach to maintain relevance and ensure security, not just for Europe itself, but also for its NATO partners, particularly those in the Baltic region.