Sun Feb 16 14:22:57 UTC 2025: ## Europe Weighs Future After Trump’s Putin Overtures Spark Transatlantic Tensions

**Brussels/Kyiv** – President Trump’s announcement of potential peace talks with Vladimir Putin in Riyadh has ignited a debate in Europe about its reliance on the United States as a security guarantor. The prospect of a US-Russia deal forged without European input has raised serious concerns across the continent.

Two main responses are emerging. One faction advocates for closer ties with the US, suggesting concessions like reduced tariffs on American cars and increased LNG purchases to appease the Trump administration. Increased defense spending, particularly on US-made weaponry, is also a key element of this approach. This strategy is evident in Eastern European nations like Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Ukraine, which are actively acquiring US military equipment. However, Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy, while actively courting both the Trump administration and US Republicans, feels betrayed by the lack of prior consultation on the Putin talks.

The second, championed by French President Emmanuel Macron, calls for greater European strategic autonomy. This involves strengthening European defense capabilities and reducing dependence on the US in areas such as technology and defense. Macron’s proposal to send European troops to Ukraine, although facing logistical challenges, highlights this ambition. The recent AI summit in Paris and the EU’s readiness for a trade dispute with the US further signal this shift.

While a fully independent “Superpower Europe” faces significant hurdles – including limited military capacity, budgetary constraints, and internal political divisions – the unsustainable nature of Europe’s dependence on a seemingly unreliable US ally is increasingly apparent. Even proponents of strong US ties acknowledge the need for “hedging” – pursuing independent policies in areas like China, trade, and tech regulation, regardless of Washington’s stance. This trend, experts predict, will likely outlast the Trump administration.

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