Stephens: Europe, too, is worth fighting for

"If Germany were invaded, just 38% of its citizens would be willing to fight for their country, according to a recent poll. Fifty-nine percent would not. In Italy, another poll found that only 16% of those of fighting age would take up arms. In France, Gen. Fabien Mandon, the army's chief of staff, told a conference of mayors last month that the nation would be at risk if it wavers because we are not ready to accept losing our children."

"America's chief foreign policy priorities, according to the document, are now focused on the Western Hemisphere and Asia. The European Union stands accused of suppressing political freedom; subverting national sovereignty; obstructing economic dynamism; promoting migration policies that could lead to civilizational erasure; and obstructing a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine. It is far from obvious, the document warns, whether certain European countries will have economies and militaries strong enough to remain reliable allies."

"These are the talking points of the European far right. Russia is never treated in the document as an enemy of the United States, just as Ukraine is never treated as an ally. Instead, the real enemies, in the eyes of the national security strategy, are migrants and bureaucrats, out to destroy whatever remains of an authentic Europe. It's tempting to dismiss the national security strategy as unsettling but unserious:"

Polls indicate low public willingness to fight in European countries: 38% in Germany, 16% of fighting-age Italians, and political debate in France over accepting military casualties. The U.S. national security strategy shifts primary focus to the Western Hemisphere and Asia and levels multiple accusations against the European Union, including suppressing political freedom, subverting sovereignty, and promoting migration policies that could risk civilizational change. The strategy questions whether some European economies and militaries can remain reliable allies. The document aligns with far-right talking points by downplaying Russia as a U.S. enemy and framing migrants and bureaucrats as primary threats.

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