The Munich Security Conference celebrated its 60th anniversary this year with its biggest-ever attendance. The halls were filled with the latest news in geopolitics, including upcoming election predictions, the lead-up to the NATO Summit in July, and somber updates from the Ukraine front.
And once the world learned of the death of Russia’s strongest opposition voice, Alexey Navalny, the conference mourned and vainly sought to make some sense of a Kremlin hell-bent on squashing any whisper of defiance.
But between the speeches of ardent support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia, applause for President Zelenskyy’s appearance and stalwart words, as well as admonition for Putin’s warmongering, there was a tone at the conference of nagging fear and incredulousness of a United States caught in a treacle of policy dispute.
A US unable and perhaps unwilling to lead. A forthcoming US election may paint a European future without consistent US assistance and support. A US not communicating effectively to its friends or foes on the significance of US and allied support for Ukraine.
I don’t blame them for being skeptical of current US leadership. But while the holds in Congress, the upcoming US election, and the lack of resolution on how to achieve success in Ukraine remain undecided, there is an opportunity for European allies and partners to get their own houses in order while all wait to see whether the US meets the moment.
It would be an unwise use of valuable time and energy handwringing over the US logjams while there are so many challenges to be addressed. Allies and partners should focus their attention and resources on the here and now while planning for the future. There is a long list of requirements that individual nations as well as the alliance need to tackle — US support or not.
- First, on the ever-growing challenge of inadequate industrial base capacity, allies, and partners need to resource and implement innovative technologies and quickly fill stockpiles of equipment and munitions.
- Second, on security policy, they need to agree on common threat assessments, increase interoperability, and standardization, and address mobility limitations throughout the continent.
- Finally, they should continue to seek robust security investments including consistent and strong defense spending, common-sense equipment provision, and properly funded research and development for next-generation capabilities.
It is true that for some policymakers in the US, the appeal of peace is clouding rationality.
Wishing something to be true, like a Russia that seeks peace, does not make it so. Getting to choose our next adversary and conflict is not likely.
And while these debates go on, the security situation around the world, led by the same club of nefarious actors continues to do its work, while fears of a rudderless NATO grow among our allies, official and otherwise,
So while I understand the concern and pessimism, Europe must not let the panic set in. Europeans must not be deterred from confronting their most present and prevalent threats.
The security and stability of the European continent is at risk. Our adversaries are looking for alliance momentum and stamina to fade. While the world waits for the US to be the leader it claims to be, our friends must not lose their own ability and motivation to ensure European peace and prosperity.
Catherine Sendak is the Director of the Transatlantic Defense and Security program at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA). From 2018 to 2021, she was the Principal Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia in the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy. Sendak also spent over a dozen years on Capitol Hill on both the House and Senate Committees on Armed Services.
Europe’s Edge is CEPA’s online journal covering critical topics on the foreign policy docket across Europe and North America. All opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the position or views of the institutions they represent or the Center for European Policy Analysis.
