America Has Become Europe’s Enemy… Can Turkey Save It?

The statement that “the United States has become Europe’s enemy” is not my own invention; it is attributed to a European diplomat.

Perhaps the declaration of “war” between the United States and Europe effectively took place at the Munich Security Conference on February 14. On that day, while Europe was celebrating Valentine’s Day, the new U.S. Vice President, J.D. Vance, delivered a harsh and aggressive speech, spoiling the romance of the occasion.

Diplomats and politicians who listened to his speech began to wonder: Could it be that the United States is no longer Europe’s friend, but has actually become its enemy? The situation was that dire.

Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times, spoke with diplomats and politicians who attended the meeting, relaying their concerns. He even took the title of his article directly from their words. It wasn’t just Financial Times that harshly criticized the United States; major newspapers like The Economist and The Guardian joined in, along with media outlets like the BBC, which conducted an investigation into how Europe could defend itself without relying on the United States.

In other words, the condescending statements from Trump, his Vice President Vance, and businessman Elon Musk have provoked European politicians, diplomats, and intellectuals to an unprecedented degree.

Europe Without the U.S.: Vulnerable and Powerless

For years, Europe basked in a sense of security and comfort, preoccupied with long debates over the “virtues” of same-sex marriage, the fate of salmon in the North Sea, vegan diets, and Milan Fashion Week. But after receiving a harsh slap from its old ally at the Munich Conference, Europe seemed to have suddenly woken up.

Even European politicians who used to give grand speeches about expelling immigrants, defending the burning of the Quran under the banner of “freedom of thought,” and theorizing about minority rights in other countries, now found themselves facing a far more urgent question: “What will we do without the United States?”

The answer came from a European foreign minister speaking to the Financial Times, who candidly admitted: “Without the United States, we are incapable of even carrying out the most basic security tasks.”

After years of complete reliance on American protection, Europeans have begun to realize that their armies are little more than traffic police and that, practically speaking, they lack any real military force to defend themselves.

Meanwhile, Washington—led by a president who views everything through the lens of profit and loss—has decided to end Europe’s “golden era” of free security. American officials have made it clear: “We have spent billions of dollars protecting you through NATO and military bases, but this comfortable arrangement is now over.”

The U.S. Secretary of Defense reinforced this bitter truth during his visit to Poland, bluntly stating: “We will not protect you forever. You must start investing in your own defense.”

A Surge in Military Spending

Upon realizing that they were exposed to danger without the American security umbrella, the 27 EU nations fell into a state of panic, as if suddenly abandoned in a vast and hostile wilderness.

For years, they were aware that, apart from Britain and France, European countries no longer had militaries capable of repelling a potential “Russian invasion”, but they had simply chosen to ignore this reality.

The war in Ukraine had already been keeping them awake at night, but they found a way to push the threat away: “We will pay, and you will fight on our behalf.” That was how they convinced the Ukrainians to wage war in their stead.

Even Germany—the strongest economy in Europe—fell into recession last year, partly due to the costs of funding Ukrainian soldiers’ salaries. If Germany can no longer afford to contribute, what about the rest of Europe?

Yet the problem now is that money alone is no longer enough. It has become evident that without American weapons, Ukraine is helpless.

And don’t believe Britain’s offers to send troops to Ukraine—Europeans who start their mornings with croissants and cappuccinos in Paris or London are not about to trade their comfort for the harsh realities of war in the Ukrainian plains. Perhaps the time has come to bid farewell to Kyiv.

Europe: Leaderless and Powerless

While the Middle East has been engulfed in wars and conflicts, Europe has been focused on just one issue: How to stop migrants from coming in. Their chosen method? Sinking refugee boats in the Mediterranean. Italy, Greece, and Malta have collectively caused the deaths of thousands, yet within Europe, this has hardly stirred any controversy.

Rather than confronting the rise of the far-right, European politicians adopted anti-immigrant policies, believing it would help them stay in power. But they failed to preserve the unity of the European Union, which now teeters on the brink of disintegration.

At the same time, Europe has lost its influence as a military and economic power capable of balancing global affairs.

Its strategy for managing international crises has remained unchanged: “Let destruction unfold, then wait for the U.S., China, or Russia to step in, after which we’ll participate in reconstruction and reap the profits.”

Since the departure of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Europe has failed to produce a single genuine political leader. Today, Europe is not just leaderless—it is also defenseless.

Can Turkey Save Europe?

For over 50 years, Europe has kept Turkey at the gates of the European Union, despite Ankara meeting all the required conditions for membership. But today, some are starting to regret that decision.

Turkey boasts the 11th largest economy in the world, the 4th largest in Europe, and one of the world’s top 10 strongest militaries. With a population of 85 million, including a high proportion of talented young people, Turkey could have played a vital role in reviving Europe.

Now, European politicians and intellectuals are beginning to recognize this reality. But will they open the doors of the European Union to Turkey while their continent remains steeped in Islamophobia, nationalism, and xenophobia? I’m not so sure.

Meanwhile, in Turkey, polls show that the majority of the population is no longer interested in EU membership. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently stated: “Turkey, with full membership, can save the European Union from its crises—whether in economy, defense, politics, or global standing.”

Throughout my journalism career, I have never written about the U.S.-Europe conflict before, but I must admit, it’s quite an enjoyable and refreshing topic!

Why must we always talk about our own problems only?