For 80 years, what bound the United States to Europe was a shared commitment to defence and a common set of values: a commitment to defend democracy, human rights and the rule of law.
That era was inaugurated in March 1947 in an 18-minute speech by President Harry Truman, in which he pledged US support to defend Europe against further expansion by the Soviet Union.
America led the creation of NATO, the World Bank, the IMF and the United Nations. It bound itself into what became known as the 'rules-based international order', in which nation-states committed to a series of mutual obligations and shared burdens, designed to defend the democratic world against hostile authoritarian powers.
Now, the new US National Security Strategy (NSS), published in December, signifies a shift in this shared endeavor, suggesting that much of what was taken for granted about America's role in the world is coming to an end.
The review questions the legitimacy of the 'rules-based international order', marking a significant pivot in US foreign policy. Vice-President JD Vance explicated this direction in a speech at the Munich Security Conference, warning European allies that the true threat lies not in Russia but within Europe itself, as anti-democratic sentiments grow.
With Vance's remarks now codified in NSS, the implication is clear: America no longer promotes the global values established after the Second World War. The strategy explicitly pushes for a more muscular approach to international relations, reasserting principles akin to the Monroe Doctrine, with a focus on the sovereignty of nation-states rather than the support of democratic institutions.
For Europe, this raises pressing questions of alignment and dependency on an increasingly unilateral US. European leaders must reconsider their positions — many signaling potential paths towards greater autonomy from American influence, endeavored within a reshaped military and political landscape.
Experts express concern over Europe's long-term viability as a dependable ally under this new doctrine. The NSS casts a pessimistic view on the continent's future and emphasizes the necessity for European nations to bolster their defense strategies amidst a shifting geopolitical landscape.
In essence, the new US National Security Strategy is not merely a realignment but a potential fracturing of established Western alliances, prompting both sides of the Atlantic to grapple with a new reality that questions century-old commitments to mutual defense and shared values.
