Europe needs a new defense union based on the Ukraine coalition model to replace unreliable US security guarantees
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/paul-taylor. "Without US military support, we need a European defence union. Here’s what that looks like | Paul Taylor | The Guardian." February 18, 2026. www.theguardian.com
The Gist
Since America under Trump won't reliably defend Europe anymore, Europeans need to create their own defense organization. The best model is the group of countries currently helping Ukraine, which works better than NATO or the EU because it excludes problem countries and can make decisions quickly.
Conclusion
Europe should develop a European defense union based on the existing 'coalition of the willing' framework from Ukraine, rather than relying on traditional NATO or EU structures
Premises
- Trump's America will provide much less or potentially no military support to Europe in future conflicts
- Neither NATO nor the EU can respond swiftly to security threats due to US dominance in NATO and unanimity requirements in both organizations
- The Ukraine 'coalition of the willing' demonstrates a more effective framework, bringing together key military powers while excluding obstructive members like Hungary and Slovakia
- Europe lacks the fiscal capacity to fund defense increases without joint borrowing, which Germany opposes
- Building credible European defense requires not just weapons but also logistics, training, larger armed forces, and new command structures
- The coalition model includes crucial non-EU countries (UK, Norway, Turkey) that are essential for European defense
- Current EU and NATO structures contain members that slow decision-making and assistance (Hungary, Slovakia, militarily non-aligned EU countries)
Assumptions
- Trump would not commit US forces to defend European NATO territory in a crisis
- European public opinion will continue supporting increased defense spending
- The Ukraine coalition model can be successfully adapted for broader European defense
- European countries will develop the political will to commit forces independently of the US
- Russia remains the primary security threat requiring this new defense structure