The Illusion of European Strategic Autonomy – A Meta-Commentary

In The National Interest article, “European Strategic Autonomy Is an Illusion,” the author makes a strong case against the feasibility of Europe achieving true independence in matters of defense and security. According to the author, the concept of strategic autonomy—Europe acting without reliance on the United States—is less a viable policy direction and more a political fantasy.

From their point of view, the core problem is not ideological ambition but material and structural limitations. Despite repeated calls for greater independence, Europe lacks the unified political will, robust military capacity, and institutional coherence required to back such aspirations. The author underscores that European nations continue to rely overwhelmingly on NATO—particularly U.S. military power—for deterrence and operational effectiveness.

The argument rests on three main pillars:

Defense Capabilities Gap: The author points out that European nations, on the whole, have underinvested in defense for decades. Even with recent increases in military spending, particularly in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, Europe is still not equipped to project power or defend itself at scale without American support.

Fragmented Political Will: The piece highlights the lack of a unified strategic doctrine within the EU. Member states often disagree on key issues—from threat perception to military intervention—making a coordinated and independent defense policy unlikely.

Structural Dependence on the U.S.: From logistics and surveillance to nuclear deterrence and intelligence, the U.S. still provides the backbone of European security. The article makes it clear that without American capabilities, the EU cannot credibly defend itself against high-end threats.

In essence, the article is skeptical of any serious movement toward European strategic autonomy. Rather than seeing it as a future goal to be cultivated, the author treats it as a distraction from the more pragmatic path: reinforcing transatlantic cooperation and revitalizing NATO with greater European burden-sharing.

Whether one agrees or not, the article articulates a clear position: that talk of European independence in defense is premature at best, and delusional at worst. It serves as a reminder that rhetoric about sovereignty must be backed by material capability, institutional alignment, and a willingness to act. Until those factors align, the author believes strategic autonomy will remain more symbolic than real.

https://nationalinterest.org/feature/european-strategic-autonomy-is-an-illusion