The European Union must urgently forge a path of greater self-reliance and strategic autonomy, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has declared, warning that the traditional Western alliance has entered an era of irrevocable change.
In a stark address to EU policymakers and defence officials on Wednesday, von der Leyen said that the foundations of the post-war transatlantic alliance have been rocked by shifting U.S. foreign policy priorities under President Donald Trump’s second term in office. “The West, as we knew it, no longer exists,” she stated unequivocally.
Her comments mark one of the clearest acknowledgements yet from Brussels that Europe can no longer rely on the United States in the way it once did. The speech, delivered against the backdrop of growing geopolitical tension and economic fragmentation, sounded a clarion call for a more assertive, self-sufficient European Union — both in terms of military capability and industrial strategy.
President Trump’s re-election last year sent shockwaves through European capitals. Since returning to the Oval Office, he has doubled down on his America First agenda, threatening to pull funding from NATO unless European members meet increased defence spending targets and questioning the utility of multilateral institutions long seen as the bedrock of Western cooperation.
Von der Leyen, while careful to stress the enduring value of the EU-U.S. relationship, made it clear that Europe must be prepared to act alone if necessary.
“America remains a friend and partner. But friendship cannot be mistaken for dependence,” she said. “Strategic autonomy is no longer a luxury. It is a necessity.”
The Commission President’s remarks are expected to breathe new life into the long-simmering debate over EU defence cooperation. France and Germany have led the charge for a unified European defence capability, though progress has been halting, often stymied by national sensitivities and transatlantic loyalties.
But the calculus is changing. Von der Leyen, herself a former German defence minister, has long advocated for a European Defence Union. On Wednesday, she outlined a roadmap that would see the EU invest more heavily in joint procurement, establish rapid deployment capabilities, and expand its role in cyber-defence and space security.
“Europe must be able to protect its citizens, its interests, and its values — not only through diplomacy, but through credible deterrence,” she said.
Beyond defence, von der Leyen turned her focus to the economic vulnerabilities exposed by recent global shocks. The COVID-19 pandemic, followed by the energy crisis sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, have revealed the extent to which Europe’s supply chains and industrial capacity are beholden to external powers.
In response, Brussels has launched a series of initiatives to promote the domestic production of critical technologies — from semiconductors to green energy infrastructure. Von der Leyen urged member states to continue supporting this pivot toward “economic sovereignty”.
“Europe must never again find itself at the mercy of decisions made in Washington, Beijing or Moscow,” she warned. “We must be the authors of our own economic destiny.”
Despite the rhetorical shift, von der Leyen was at pains to insist that her vision is not one of isolationism or anti-Americanism. Rather, she called for a more balanced partnership — one that respects the differing trajectories of Europe and the United States.
“The transatlantic bond remains vital,” she said. “But we must build it on a foundation of mutual strength, not one-sided reliance.”
Her words echo recent statements from French President Emmanuel Macron, who has championed the idea of a “sovereign Europe” capable of choosing its own allies and defending its own interests. Yet von der Leyen’s intervention may carry added weight, coming from the top of the EU.
