Shifts in the US-EU Security Cooperation: Making Sense of the Shifts in the Trans-Atlantic Partnership

The US and Europe’s Security Cooperation has a distinct historical context to it. The transatlantic partners have maintained deep strategic ties on this front. The foundations of this relationship were laid in the aftermath of World War II, driven by shared civilisational values, interests, and most importantly common threats to security.

Illustration by The Geostrata

In the bipolar world of the post-World War II era, the predominantly capitalist Europe found a natural ally in the USA, to share their burden of security against the backdrop of the USSR's efforts to spread the ideology of Socialism.

HISTORY OF THE COOPERATION

The common ground for this cooperation has been the narrative of protecting democracy and the overall liberty of the people. There have been numerous cases where the US and its European partners have worked in synergy to mitigate a threat to these shared ideals. The Eurocentric or the western meta narrative has always been that they are the custodians of democracy and are perpetually always away or outside of the non-democratic sphere.

In the words of Francis Fukuyama, the end of the Cold War was equivalent to the ‘End of History’ as liberalism and capitalism has proved its mettle to be the most efficient and stable path of ideology. He talked about the natural affinity of the states and people from thereon towards these ideals. But, with the rise of China in the east and the re-strengthening of Russia after the disintegration of the USSR, the traditional threats to the European security scheme have again become relevant.

JD VANCE’S SPEECH - A TURNING POINT

It’s been three years since Russia launched an attack on the sovereignty of Ukraine, putting in jeopardy the security regime of entire Europe. Russia’s offensive has been answered by NATO and the western countries by supplying arms and resources to Ukraine on one hand and sanctioning Russia on the other, to dry up their resources and rendering them incapable to continue the offensive. But the situation is still not under control. In the backdrop of this situation, this year’s Munich Security Conference was organised.

Significant political leaders, and Security and Military experts gathered in Germany to discuss the fate of European Security vis a vis the Russia-Ukraine War.

The US Vice President JD Vance’s speech was a shocker for many European counterparts to say the least. Russia’s War on Ukraine was only a marginal issue for his speech which barely had any mention in it.

Vance launched a surprising and violent attack on the European democracies due to their inability to follow the democratic ideals correctly. Vance’s speech reflected the renewed approach of the US, which President Trump has been trying to establish. President Trump has been clear about his assertions that Europe needs to step up, in order to provide for their own security. There’s also a clear difference between Trump’s perception of threat and Europe’s perception of threat, which Vance tried to convey through this speech. 

Vance specifically mentioned that neither Russia nor China or the Middle East is a threat for Europe, rather the threat lies inside the European countries itself.

Vance talked about how the democratic institutions inside these countries have eroded and has set up misplaced priorities. He said that the firewall created for far-right and far-left parties in Germany, who are both against supplying arms and resources to Ukraine, is against the spirit of democracy which the USA and Europe share.

Vance majorly talked about the issue of immigration as well. He said that unvetted immigration is not something for which the people have voted these governments to power. He mentioned about the horrific incident which occurred in Munich on 13th February, 2025, wherein a 24-year-old Afghan asylum seeker, rammed his car into a group of people injuring 30 people and killing 2.

Vance was appalled by the annulment of Romanian elections, on a mere speculation of Russian money being used to sway the mandate. According to him, if Europe has so much confidence about its democratic ideals, then how come a country so easily affects its electoral mandate? He had apprehensions for several other incidents which were like stopping a Christian family to worship in their home just because it falls near an abortion clinic or the murder of a Swedish citizen because he had burned the Quran.

Vance’s attack on European values has signalled historic realignment in US’s approach towards Europe. For the first time the US accused Europe of abandoning the values of democracy. This is surely a turning point in the US-Europe dynamics. 

TRUMP’S UKRAINE POLICY

Another monumental change in US-Europe security cooperation has been brought out by President Trump’s policy on Ukraine. The seminal interaction between President Trump and President Zelenskyy in the oval office, which was broadcasted to the world, has completely changed the dynamics between the USA and Ukraine. The previous presidency under Biden was in tandem with Europe’s policy of offensive defence. But President Trump doesn’t align with this policy.

For starters, the US government has stopped all military aid to Ukraine and also put an end to the intelligence sharing mechanism between the two countries. Trump has made it clear that the USA finds no point in extending this war because according to him this offensive strategy is a bad investment.

This position of Trump clearly differs with Europe. The European countries want to focus on the pragmatic security concerns they are facing with the Russian offensive at the edge of their continent.

Trump’s fundamental problem with the current aid system to Ukraine also lies in the unequal share of Europe in the resource pool for Ukraine. He has firmly advised Europe to step up its game, if they are really concerned about their security.

There was a verbal spat between President Macron and President Trump in a press briefing in the Oval Office, on the topic of share in resource allocation, wherein Macron tried to fact check Trump on the same.

In totality, there is stark difference between the approach of Europe and the approach of the USA towards the Ukraine question

TEMPORARY DIFFERENCES OR PERMANENT REPURCUSSIONS

The US Secretary of State Marco Rubio held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in Riyadh which was a dramatic reversal of the previous U.S. administration’s policy of not having peace talks with Russia since the beginning of Russia’s war with Ukraine in February 2022.

The decision of the US government to not involve Europe and Ukraine at the discussion table shows no temporary change but gives an introductory picture of the future of the US-Europe equation. This decision of the US has not been received well by the European counterparts, who consider them equal if not more of a stakeholder in this situation.

The day after Zelenskyy was nearly escorted out of the White House, the European powers along with Zelenskyy met in London to reassure their support and position in favour of Ukraine. This meeting had an outcome under which, UK’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced their unanimous plan of the Ukraine Peacekeeping. They suggested having European boots on ground as a solution to the problem which was mocked by JD Vance by saying it as an “idea of some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 years”. Such incidents may have some deep-seated effects on the transatlantic relations.

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It has been noticed that the USA’s focus has been shifted majorly to the Indo-Pacific Region. For him, China is a bigger concern than Russia. The joint statement released by India and the U.S. after the meeting between President Trump and Prime Minister Modi highlighted this fact and so is the Quad foreign ministers’ informal meet held in Washington just after the inauguration ceremony of President Trump.

China doubles down on its efforts to boost its military power and engage in increasingly provocative behavior, this is the reason why the US is more concerned about this region.

A gradual shift from the eurocentric conception of security policy is being noticed, a realignment of priorities towards the Indo-Pacific from the European continent is a reality. The friction points and major differences noticed in the US and Europe’s outlook, puts their security cooperation in a fix. Although the NATO members follow the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P), such incidents cast doubt on the credibility of the US’s security umbrella.

Such crude hostility towards European partners is not a norm for the US and the increased camaraderie with Russia also casts a shadow of doubt in the minds of the western world. Only time will tell how this scenario unfolds and what the future has in store for this historical partnership. 

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BY SAPNIL BISWAS 

TEAM GEOSTRATA

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