The resurgence of militarism and the decline of multilateralism are reshaping global politics. As the far right gains influence and US priorities shift away from Europe, the continent faces an urgent security dilemma. From the anti-immigration protectionist policies of the Italian Giorgia Meloni to the authoritarianism of Vladimir Putin and the return of Donald Trump, there is only one word to describe the international arena: uncertainty.

Europe’s vulnerability in the new global order

Donald Trump’s new priorities are getting pretty clear: with his focus on the contention of China’s military surge, Europe’s security is not its problem anymore. The fact that the US does not guarantee unconditional support for the protection of the borders of the EU leaves the union exposed to a very vulnerable situation, especially after Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. This war is a clear threat to the international order and the peace and security of the whole region. In this situation, many European leaders are adopting positions that were difficult to believe just a few years ago, such as considering sending troops to Ukraine or the restoration of compulsory military service.

To avoid Europe’s militarization and guarantee stability in the near future, one must work for a just and fair peace in Ukraine, not only to stop Russia’s aggression but to dissuade the country from similar actions in the future. The reconstruction of the European and international order shall be based on terms such as cooperation amongst states and respect for fundamental rights, preserving Ukraine’s sovereignty, and establishing the means to prevent further conflicts.

Towards a truly European autonomous security

Europe needs to reinforce its foreign, security, and defense policy to reduce instability and prevent conflicts. And there is only one imaginable way of it happening: wider coordination amongst member states to increase efficiency and diminish duplicity of structures. Europe should be able to manage its own defense without impositions from external forces and so reduce its dependency on the United States and NATO. If states keep investing by themselves with no coordination at all, not only will the European response be fragmented, with 27 different national strategies, but the main beneficiary will be the United States arms industry.

This unified European defense framework might be a peace guarantee by joining together military resources and creating a common defense structure. According to the European Commission, bigger coordination in terms of research and development and joint contracting would optimize between 25 and 100 billion euros per year of an overall yearly expense of 200 billion. This demonstrates that a potential common defense is not just strategically necessary but also economically viable.

Saying no to deterrence

Despite the actual described scenario of being able to achieve more without spending more, if one follows the press, an increase in military expenses seems pretty unavoidable. But it must be avoided that this increase is detrimental to social and ecological policies. Any increase must be coordinated from the Union, with efficiency as the central driver, and founded by extraordinary means such as the common debt financed by new European taxes such as the financial transaction tax—on financial operations—the multinational minimum tax—on benefits of big corporations generated outside Europe—the plastic tax—on single-use plastics—or the windfall tax—on extraordinary benefits generated by crises.

As with any other public expenditure, this one must be subjected to control and audit by the European Parliament to make sure it responds to the interests of Europe and not any other external actor.

Diplomacy and human security/safety at the focal point

Further away from the actual military issues, European security must be based on diplomacy, mediation, and conflict prevention. Human security shall be at the center of any strategy, prioritizing the protection of human beings and communities instead of focusing on military force only. This means a clear stand against nuclear weapons and any arms race on a global scale.

The European Union must demand all of its member states to sign and ratify the treaties that forbid the use of nuclear weapons, and this should be unnegotiable. Another key element to guarantee Europe’s integrity is fostering its industrial, technological, and energetic sovereignty. Europe shall reduce its dependency on third member states such as Russia, advancing towards a more self-sufficient and resilient economy. In this process, renewable energies must be fostered and fossil fuels progressively eliminated.

The European Union stands at a crossroads: to follow the path of militarization or to champion a model of security based on diplomacy, cooperation, and resilience. The future of Europe depends not on an arms race but on the strength of its collective vision for peace. Through enhanced cooperation and respect for human rights, Europe must redefine its future, protecting the well-being of both its citizens and the planet. Building a sustainable and peaceful future requires focusing on collective stability over individual power dynamics.