A New Era for NATO: Why Europe Should Take the Lead

The United States has long played a central role in European security, but the time has come for a shift. The US should transition from being the primary provider of security to a supporter and balancer of European powers. This can be achieved by reducing its military presence, encouraging Europe to develop its own defense capabilities, and reallocating resources to address domestic and other global challenges. For over a century, the US has held a consistent national interest in Europe: maintaining a balance of power and preventing any single nation from dominating the continent. This objective has guided US involvement in both World Wars and the establishment of NATO in 1949. Today, however, the landscape is different. Europe lacks a potential hegemon, and Russia, while a threat, does not pose an existential threat to the continent. With the US having achieved its primary goal in Europe, it is time to adopt a new approach. This should involve reducing the US military presence, Europeanizing NATO, and returning primary responsibility for European security to its rightful owners: the Europeans.