Europe Can Survive and Prosper without America
Hamid Alkifaey
Russian President, Vladimir Putin, would never have dreamt that his Ukrainian adventure would end up in victory as it seems to have done today.
His adversaries in Europe and America are quarrelling among themselves and exchanging insults and accusations. One has accused Ukraine of starting the war, while describing President Zelensky, who was elected by 73% of Ukrainians as a dictator.
America, which in 2022 has raised the banner of supporting ‘democracy’ in Ukraine and ‘freedom’ in Europe, has now renounced this heroism. Instead, it has rushed into negotiation with Russia without any preconditions. As for Europe, which is under an immediate Russian threat, it looked so feeble that its leaders are queuing to make pilgrimage to Washington, to beg for sympathy.
British Prime Minster, Kier Starmer, who visited Washington this week, preceded his visit by announcing that the US is right in demanding that Europe pay for the cost of defending itself and ‘the comfort of the past’ is no longer available to Europe. French President, Emmanuel Macron has beaten Starmer to Washington, in an attempt to persuade Trump to keep the Western Alliance united in supporting Ukraine. Polish President, Andrzej Duda, was also in Washington last week, explaining his country’s dilemma. Poland is the most fearful of Russian threat to its territory, given the history of hostility between the two nations. Ukrainian president, Volodymir Zelensky, has already agreed to sign away a ‘deal’ on his country’s rare-earth minerals in order to secure US security guarantees. Still, those guarantees do not seem to be forthcoming. The newly elected German would-be chancellor, Friedrich Merz, will no doubt visit Washington in the earliest opportunity to present his case to President Trump.
The reason for this alarm is not related to European inability to defend themselves. Rather, it’s their unpreparedness militarily to confront Russia, even though this security threat to Europe has loomed in the horizon for quite a while, at least since Trump’s first term, when the administration was overtly, and uncharacteristically, friendly to the Putin clique.
Europe has immense military and economic resources and it’s more than able to defend itself. Dependence on America for over 80 years was a strategic miscalculation that the Europeans should never have made. It’s true that the US has a mighty army, 1.1 million soldiers in active service, but Europe has almost 2 million soldiers in active service, and double this number in reservists.
Ukraine itself has also manifested a huge ability in defending itself, even though it needs weapons and financial assistance to sustain the war. The number of Ukrainian soldiers in active service and reserve is 2.2 million, according to reliable estimates (Statista). Their number surpasses that of the US Army. The Ukrainians were heroic in defending their country and halting the Russian advance and they should be relied upon as a security backstop to Europe as a whole.
The US has nuclear weapons, so does Europe. Britain and France have among themselves 515 nuclear warheads. American nuclear warheads are also deployed in Europe, between Germany, Belgium, Italy, Holland and Turkey. Thus, America cannot abandon Europe unless it dismantles it military bases, and this doesn’t look a possibility in the near future.
The US military industry is highly advanced. True. But so is Europe’s. The industrial revolution started here in Europe; UK, Germany, France and Italy. German Leopard tanks, are among the most advanced in the world, so are the British Challenger and French Leclerc tanks. If they are no match American Abrahms, they are certainly stronger than the Russian T34 and T57.
European jet fighters (Eurofighter Typhoon), and British (Tempest), are also advanced. They are certainly better performers than the Russian fighter jets. Furthermore, the American highly developed Lockhead Martin fighter jets, are also manufactured in in the UK, Italy and Canada.
The USA has dominated international decisions through its permanent seat at the UN Security Council, and the support of its European allies. But Europe has two permanent seats, which also carry veto rights. If the US abandons its European allies, it will lose UK and French support in the UN. The European should use their leverage over the US, which has ended up relying on the ‘quid pro quo’ principle, even when dealing with its staunchest allies.
Europe can rid itself of the US domination on international decisions, which have often conflicted with European policies, laws, interests and humanitarian commitments and aspirations. Many of the US’ policies have embarrassed Europeans, especially those starkly biased ones, and they are numerous.
On the economic front, Europe’s economy is the second largest globally. If we use the Purchasing Power Parity measure (PPP), the European GDP is $29tr, while the US’ is just over $30tr. If the UK’s GDP (around $5tr in PPP terms) is added, the European economy will surpass that of the US.
It’s in the interest of Europe to liberate itself of American hegemony, politically, economically, militarily, and yes, ethically. US hegemony has marginalized Europe, and delayed its unification process. It has also embarrassed the Europeans internationally, especially regarding US’ position on human rights globally. The US has not recognised the International Criminal Court and often opposed its decisions. The European association with America has placed a heavy burden on Europe and restricted its ability to form its own policies and pursue its own interests, independent of the US.
This has also deprived Europe of many economic opportunities. On the top of that, the US imposes sanctions on countries it disagrees with, such as China, and requires European countries to apply those sanctions, even if they are detrimental to their interests.
In addition to weakening and isolating America, Trump’s current measures, which are mainly directed against US allies in the continents of Europe and America, will certainly oblige the Europeans to review their political calculations, strategic alliances and economic directions. This review will eventually lead to liberating Europe form American hegemony and enable it to take its own political and economic decisions in accordance with its strategic interests. This will benefit Europe and entice other countries to cooperate with it.
Europe has many potential strengths. A stable and internationally-trusted currency is one. This will enhance its credibility and economic viability across the world, especially among countries which do not trust the US, in Asia, Africa and South America.
What Europe needs is coherence, cooperation and coordination of efforts among its states. It must get over its past rivalries and linguistic and cultural differences. The people of Europe should just feel as they are, one people, who share common fate, goals, and interests.
President Trump’s trade and defence threats against the Western Alliance, which America has led for 80 years, should act as a wakeup call to Europe, to follow independent policies that serve its interests. If Europe remains divided, it will stay weak before Russia or any other rising power. Europe needs to stand by Ukraine, urgently and wholeheartedly. If it lets Ukraine down now, the Russian threat will not stop at Ukraine’s borders.
