The question of strategic autonomy was discussed at numerous large and small meetings of the European Union (EU) throughout 2025, but recent developments have made the task all the more pressing. The growing divergence between the US and the EU on defence, tariffs, the conflict in Ukraine, and the Greenland issue has forced the EU to confront the risks inherent in dependence.
Therefore, strengthening strategic autonomy, consolidating internal capabilities, and repositioning itself in a rapidly changing world have become an objective necessity for Europe, rather than merely a political slogan.
The US, while still referring to Europe as an “ally” in official documents, has adjusted its positions, policies, and actions, underscoring that allies are no longer of one mind on a number of core issues.
A report released ahead of the Munich Security Conference 2026 notes that certain policies and approaches adopted by major powers, including the US, are having a significant impact on the existing institutional system and international order. The report makes clear that the world is currently experiencing a period of profound instability, and that the transatlantic partnership is facing serious challenges.
In practice, the EU has long prepared for scenarios involving rifts in its relationship with the US and has planned to enhance strategic autonomy since US President Donald Trump began his second term. Even so, the bloc has appeared confused under the relentless pressure exerted by the Washington administration on this increasingly fragile alliance.
At the Munich Security Conference in 2025, widely regarded as a test of US-EU relations under the second Trump administration, signals of strain in bilateral ties became evident.
Addressing the conference, US Vice President JD Vance sharply criticised European partners, expressing concern over what he described as Europe’s retreat from some of its most fundamental values. The speech stirred turbulence in US-EU relations, drawing objections from leaders in Germany and France.
Harsh language from the US towards its European partners resurfaced in the US National Security Strategy released at the end of 2025. The document condemned EU migration policies, claiming they posed a risk of “civilisational erasure”. This was a further indication of the growing fragility of the alliance over time.
Nevertheless, advancing strategic autonomy is far from an easy path for the EU. Differences in geography, history, economic structures, and political outlooks among its 27 member states make decision-making on sensitive issues such as foreign policy, security, and energy particularly difficult.
The relationship with Russia in the context of the Ukraine conflict provides a clear example. While many EU countries favour tougher measures against Moscow, others, heavily dependent on Russian energy supplies, such as Hungary, have shown caution over the risk of escalating confrontation with Russia.
Wolfgang Ischinger, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, has observed that US foreign policy continues to shape the international environment, with impacts that will become increasingly apparent in the period ahead. Reality shows that the international order is changing, and the time has come for the EU to accelerate the building of strategic autonomy across multiple areas, including defence, trade, and energy.
That said, it cannot be denied that relations with the US remain a crucial factor for the EU’s future. Reducing dependence does not mean decoupling; rather, it means enhancing Europe’s capacity to act independently in a world marked by fractures, divisions, and instability.
