Europe in crisis: Can the continent exist without the USA?

The geopolitical situation in the Eastern Bloc is deteriorating dramatically and the voices of the experts are becoming louder. Colonel Markus Reisner, a Federal Army officer and historian, urgently warns of the consequences of the recent phone call between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his analysis, he describes this moment as a “black day” for the Western military alliance and obscure times for Ukraine, which now appears to be abandoned by the US. “The USA has abandoned Kiev,” said Reisner, who considers the moral consequences of a possible deal between Trump and Putin for Ukrainian troops to be worrying. He states that these negotiations could further destabilize the front line in Ukraine, which would put a significant strain on the already weak morale of Ukrainian soldiers, as the Berliner Zeitung reported.

Reisner is convinced that the European response to the changed situation is crucial. At a critical moment he said: “Are we ready to compensate for what the US has done so far or not?” The Europeans face the challenge of expanding their military and geopolitical influence as the US withdraws from the conflict. At the Munich Security Conference, the “Emperor's Clothes” were held up to European states, and Reisner emphasizes that many countries have not yet realized how serious the situation really is. Such worrying developments are not just limited to Russia; China is also becoming increasingly aggressive, especially with regard to Taiwan.

The alarming reality

Reisner sees the world in transition and explains that the military will to be stronger in Europe not only makes a difference, but could also be crucial in order not to be lost in the global power game. He warns that we may find ourselves in a new 19th century where nations must assert themselves through military superiority. The military expert recognizes that Europe has the economic and industrial potential to respond militarily, but lacks political resolve and the necessary money. Without a strategic plan development, Europe will suffer under the pressure of aggression in the long term, emphasizes Reisner.