For decades the transatlantic alliance has been sold as a pillar of global stability. Yet today Europe is not a reliable partner. It is a continent in ideological freefall, weakened by left wing internal politics, hollowed out defense budgets, and a cultural elite that openly sneers at the American people. The United States must stop playing savior to a bloc that refuses to save itself.
Surveys consistently show that European elites hold deep disdain for everyday Americans. A Pew Research Center survey in June 2025 found that across 24 nations only 49% had a favorable view of the United States while an identical share viewed it unfavorably. The Brussels Institute for Geopolitics reported that Europe’s view of the United States cooled significantly with confidence in American leadership dropping compared to earlier years. A European Council on Foreign Relations poll revealed that Europeans increasingly see the United States as a necessary partner rather than a true ally. This is not just cultural snobbery. It is strategic blindness. Europe wants American protection without respecting American priorities.
The imbalance between defense and welfare spending is staggering. According to NATO’s 2025 expenditure report total allied spending reached about $1.6 trillion but the United States alone accounted for nearly $980 billion. Germany spent $93.7 billion, the United Kingdom $90.5 billion, and France $66.5 billion. Even though 23 NATO members now meet the 2% of GDP defense target only Poland exceeds 3.5% while most major economies remain far below. By contrast Eurostat data shows that European Union nations spent about €4.6 trillion on social protection benefits in 2023 which amounted to 26.7% of GDP. Nearly half went to pensions with another 30% to healthcare. Europe continues to fund lavish welfare states while neglecting military readiness. Instead of building robust self defense systems they rely on United States taxpayers to underwrite their security.
President Trump’s National Security Strategy released in December 2025 warned bluntly that Europe faces “civilizational erasure” if current trends continue POLITICO +3. The document argued that unchecked immigration, economic stagnation, and cultural decay threaten to make the continent “unrecognizable in 20 years or less.” This was the first time a U.S. strategy paper explicitly framed Europe’s decline as a civilizational crisis, underscoring how far the continent has drifted from being a reliable ally. The message was clear: America cannot indefinitely rescue a partner that refuses to defend its own civilization.
LA partner that will not fight for itself, will not respect its ally’s values, and will not invest in shared defense is not a partner. It is a liability. The United States should not be forced into another rescue mission every few decades because Europe refuses to grow up. If Europe wants American support it must meet three criteria. It must show respect for American values and sovereignty. It must fully invest in its own defense. It must align with liberty rather than bureaucratic decay. Until then the United States should prioritize bilateral relationships with nations that pull their weight and let Europe face the consequences of its own decline.
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