A prominent think tank leader has called for European nations to strengthen their security capabilities independent of both the United States and China. Bronwen Maddox, director and CEO of Chatham House, expressed these views during a conference at Georgetown University on September 29.
Calls for Independent European Security Strategy
Maddox urged Europe to carve out its own foreign policy as the influence of major powers like the United States and China grows on the continent. At the event, hosted by Georgetown’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD), she highlighted a decline in European trust towards the United States, particularly citing the policies of the Trump administration.
“We are at a critical juncture in our historic relationship with the U.S.,” Maddox stated, referencing President Donald Trump’s controversial remarks regarding U.S. military involvement in Greenland and Canada. She noted, “If there was one turning point in all this, it was the president’s musing on Greenland. I cannot overstate the extent of that shock.”
She continued, indicating a growing sentiment among European nations that they may need to prepare to defend themselves independently, or even against U.S. actions. “As one European country put it, not only that we might have to defend ourselves without the U.S., but that we might have to defend ourselves against the U.S.,” Maddox elaborated.
Barbara Bodine, director of ISD and former ambassador to Yemen, moderated the discussion and echoed Maddox’s warning about the long-term ramifications of the U.S.’s approach to international relations. “The destruction of trust is going to be the lasting legacy,” Bodine asserted, suggesting that repeated betrayals will result in a reluctance to engage again.
Meanwhile, China has been strengthening its diplomatic and economic relations with Europe over the past decade, increasingly positioning itself as a competitor to U.S. influence. Maddox warned that the dynamics between the U.S. and China significantly shape Europe’s future foreign policy decisions.
Maddox noted the considerable shift in U.S. standing on the global stage over the past century, stating, “Whether that is at home, from attacking science or dismantling federal support for clean technology, or abroad by, as it seems to allies, attacking them with tariffs,” she said. More optimistically, she proposed that Europe now has an opportunity to emerge as a powerful third pillar alongside the U.S. and China.
“If Europe wants to be the third pillar of the world among the U.S. and China, then this is its moment,” Maddox concluded.
Why It Matters: As global power dynamics shift, Maddox’s insights underscore the urgency for European nations to reassess their security policies and alliances. This strategic recalibration could impact not only the continent’s geopolitical standing but also its economic and diplomatic relationships going forward.
