Staff Reports
In the wake of recent voting in Germany, the message couldn’t be clearer: leadership matters, and President Donald Trump’s influence is reshaping Europe for the better. With the center-right Christian Democrats securing the most seats in the Bundestag, the party’s leader, Friedrich Merz, has openly declared that his priority as chancellor will be to bolster Europe’s independence from the United States. One has to wonder if Merz skipped over that little history lesson about shared responsibility that the world learned during the Cold War.
The hard-right Alternative for Germany party is promoting military independence too, albeit with a certain reluctance when it comes to Ukraine matters. It’s almost ironic that while the voice of the people raises demands for self-sufficiency, they still balk at what that might mean for their security alliances. Critics claim this shift spells disaster for NATO, but in reality, a stronger Germany is precisely what Europe needs to rejuvenate a floundering alliance that seems to have become more reliant on America than ever before.
How Trump Makes Europe Stronger https://t.co/Y7NsY9F5M1. Muscle
— Joseph Twohig (@JosephTwohig) February 25, 2025
Once, during the height of the Cold War, West Germany was home to a military robust enough to put its weight behind Europe’s defenses, with over half a million service members. Fast forward to today, and we find that number has dwindled to a mere 180,000, even as global tensions rise in Ukraine. This apathy toward military readiness isn’t just a number; it’s indicative of a deeper issue—an unwillingness to defend their own nations. A recent Gallup poll showed that a whopping 78% of Italians, 62% of Austrians, and 57% of Germans wouldn’t even think about fighting to protect their homelands. Talk about a recipe for disaster.
Trump has long pointed out that America has been getting the short end of the stick while NATO partners enjoy a free ride, partially funded by the American taxpayer. It’s no wonder European elites, who fear that increased defense spending could destabilize their precious welfare systems, find themselves cornered. They are stuck between wanting to maintain social safety nets and the hard reality of needing to defend their borders—and quite frankly, it’s about time they learned the hard lesson Donald Trump is teaching by leading from the front.
The narrative that military spending would lead to chaos in Europe is not only false but also backward. In fact, rejuvenating military prowess can promote social cohesion. When citizens are prepared to serve and sacrifice for their nation, it creates a collective sense of patriotism that transcends social divides. The American experience demonstrates that military service can unite people across various backgrounds, creating a stronger, more cohesive society ready to face external threats together. Europe’s elite need to realize that an environment where individuals are responsible for both national security and their own welfare is not merely feasible; it’s a necessity.
The pressing need for Europe, particularly Germany, is a rise in national pride that fosters a commitment to both defense and societal cooperation. In a world where the specter of an invigorated and militarily capable Germany looms once more in Europe’s future, it is vital for the continent to learn from Trump’s refusal to shoulder their defense alone. By emphasizing military responsibility and readiness, Europe can strengthen itself and harness a renewed spirit of self-reliance, ultimately bolstering the NATO alliance in a way that European leaders have long shied away from. As the continent stares down its complex history, it stands on the precipice of a military renaissance, breathing new life into nations that have grown complacent. This could very well be the moment Germany, and indeed all of Europe, awakens to the sound of self-sufficiency trumpeting their way toward a unified future.
