Europe at a crossroads: Alone against Russia and China?

Europe at a crossroads: Alone against Russia and China?

In Germany, and especially here in Cologne, the question of security is once again at the center of the discussion. The security that NATO has guaranteed for over seven decades is increasingly being put to the test. The geopolitical situation has changed dramatically with the clash of autocracies – such as Russia, China and even the USA. In the wake of this development, it becomes clear that Europe could be forced to strengthen its independent defense capability in the future in order to protect itself against potential threats. At this point Osthessen-News reports that... a central discourse is initiated.

The past few years, particularly Donald Trump's presidency, have shown that American support for Europe can no longer be taken for granted. This assumption turned out to be a misjudgment; the US appears less willing to stand up for Europe's security. So it is not surprising that Europe's future role in the world was discussed at the last NATO summit in The Hague in June 2025. The meeting was nothing less than the biggest security policy upheaval since the end of the Cold War, where NATO's defense capability was also intended to be strengthened (Federal government reports that ...).

Personal responsibility and challenges

Retired Brigadier General Rainer Meyer will give a presentation on July 24th in Bronnzell that will deal with exactly these topics. He will call for Europeans to potentially take responsibility to avoid being overshadowed by a possible counter-alliance from Russia, China, Iran and other anti-Western actors. As the discussion surrounding NATO shows, European states are no longer great powers, but rather middle powers with regional interests. It is questionable whether a return to a common European security architecture can become a reality (De Gruyter Brill reports that…).

Increased European military cooperation may be necessary to close security gaps. Germany in particular is seen as a potential backbone for NATO in Europe. However, it is clear that the Bundeswehr and military capacities must be significantly upgraded in order to close the gaps left by the loss of the American presence in an increasingly complex security situation. The goal would be up to 460,000 soldiers in active and reserve units. This is in line with NATO's two percent target, which Germany wants to meet by 2024 (Federal government reports that...).

The path of change

As already became clear at the NATO summit, there is a clear need for action when it comes to strengthening the defense industry and expanding military capabilities. The increase in defense spending to 3.5 percent of GDP by 2035 also shows that the federal government is willing to strengthen the resilience of its security architecture. A significant step in troubled times.

Overall, the discussion about Europe's security is becoming increasingly dynamic due to regional, geopolitical conditions. The challenge is that all nations involved must coordinate their interests and capacities in order not to get lost in the international power game. It remains to be seen how the European security architecture will develop and whether it will be possible to walk the tightrope between self-assertion and transatlantic cooperation.

So you can look forward to the upcoming event by retired Brigadier General Rainer Meyer in the Jägerhaus in Bronnzell. The issues discussed there concern us all and are central to the future of security in Europe.