Europe must become the protagonist of its own story
“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility”
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
When it comes to Ukraine and the broader question of European security, Europe must stop striving for the “Best Supporting Actor” award and instead recognise that the lead role was always meant to be its own.
For decades, the transatlantic relationship rested on an imbalance, with Europe strategically dependent on the US as its security guarantor. That arrangement is no longer sustainable. As US political volatility grows and security guarantees hinge on electoral cycles, Europe faces a stark choice to either take the lead or surrender its agency to Moscow and Washington.
Overreliance on Washington has weakened Europe's sense of agency, leaving it reacting to decisions made elsewhere. We saw this with US delays in supplying advanced weaponry to Ukraine. We see it now as Europe hesitates to give Kyiv a legally binding multilateral security framework anchoring it in the Euro-Atlantic community.
A truly sovereign Europe cannot rest on symbolic gestures or bilateral deals that shift with political winds. It must be built on a European-led architecture that is both formidable and sustainable over the long term.
Europe must recognize Ukraine’s fate is tied to its own sovereignty and lead the effort to defeat Russia. If it hesitates and uses Ukraine as an airbag against Russian aggression, it will face the consequences should that airbag collapse.
Yes, US support remains crucial. But, in a world of rising authoritarianism and disruption, strategic autonomy is not about going it alone. It’s about ensuring Europe can act when it must, lead when it should, and protect itself when others won’t.
The tools are already on the table; ReArmEU, joint procurement, a stronger European Defence Fund, and rising national defence commitments. What’s missing is the mindset shift from dependency to protagonism.
The future of European security will be shaped by those who show up and lead, not by those who wait for permission.
Chris Kremidas-Courtney is a Senior Visiting Fellow at the European Policy Centre.
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