In a sobering assessment of the continent’s security architecture, one of Germany’s most prominent foreign policy voices warned on Friday that Europe remains fundamentally incapable of protecting itself without the shield of the American-led NATO alliance.
Armin Laschet, chairman of the Bundestag’s Foreign Affairs Committee, used a high-profile interview with RTL/ntv to call for a pragmatic “parallel” strategy. He argued that while Europe must urgently build its own military muscle, the notion of going it alone remains a dangerous fantasy for the foreseeable future.
“If the Americans were to leave NATO tomorrow, Europe would not be capable of defending itself alone,” Laschet said. The conservative lawmaker emphasized that maintaining transatlantic cohesion—including the participation of Canada—is the only viable path to regional stability.
The comments follow a period of acute strain in the Western alliance. Tensions spiked recently over President Donald Trump’s renewed interest in acquiring Greenland, an autonomous territory of Denmark. The bid, framed by the White House as a move to counter Russian and Chinese influence in the Arctic, was met with a wall of European resistance.
Laschet, however, suggested that Europe’s best defense against Washington’s more erratic impulses is clear-eyed diplomacy rather than public outrage. He noted that the U.S. president has shown a willingness to revise “proposals” when met with a firm, united European counter-position.
“This only works if you have a clear position, but not by immediately attacking or insulting him for every action he takes,” Laschet noted. He urged European capitals to act with “calm and prudence” by offering constructive counter-proposals instead of escalating rhetorical wars.
That approach appeared to bear fruit in Davos this week. Following a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump softened his tone, announcing a “framework” for a deal on Arctic security that would address U.S. concerns without the immediate threat of punitive tariffs.
The president also withdrew a 10% tariff threat against several European nations that had stood by Denmark’s sovereignty. For Laschet, this de-escalation proves that the alliance can still function, provided European leaders remain focused on maintaining the U.S. commitment to the continent.
Despite the recent dip in tensions, the underlying message from Berlin remains clear: Europe is in a race against time to modernize its own defenses while keeping its most powerful ally at the table.
