According to Financial Times News, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was photographed in late July at Turnberry golf course smiling weakly next to a beaming Donald Trump after the EU agreed to accept a 15% base tariff on EU exports to America without retaliation. The EU folded despite having a single market comparable in size to the US and China because they feared Trump would reduce security commitments to Europe amid the Ukraine war and Russian threats. This pattern extends to diplomacy where Trump negotiated directly with Putin over Ukraine while Europe lobbied from the sidelines, and the Gaza ceasefire talks centered around the US, Qatar, Egypt and Israel despite the conflict’s proximity to Europe. French influence in West Africa is declining as Russia and jihadist forces fill vacuums, while external powers increasingly assert influence across the European continent itself.
The Real Problem Isn’t Money or Military
Here’s the thing that really stings about Europe’s situation. It’s not that they’re poor or completely defenseless. Europe remains wealthy with a substantial defense industry. The issue runs much deeper than budgets or troop numbers.
Brussels is fundamentally a bureaucracy – great at process and law, terrible at acting quickly and ruthlessly. When you’re dealing with powers like the US, China, or Russia, that bureaucratic mindset becomes a massive liability. They can outmaneuver you every time because they don’t play by the same rulebook.
The Scramble For Europe Has Started
Remember the “scramble for Africa” during Europe’s imperial heyday? Well, according to Oxford scholar Dimitar Bechev, we’re now witnessing the beginning of a “scramble for Europe.” And honestly, that framing makes perfect sense when you look at what’s happening.
In the Western Balkans – countries theoretically headed for EU membership – China’s influence through infrastructure projects and loans is growing rapidly. Russia and Turkey are expanding their footholds too. It’s like watching vultures circle a weakened animal.
What’s particularly concerning is how this external pressure exploits Europe’s internal divisions. The US knew exactly how to play different EU countries and industries against each other on those tariffs. And honestly, China’s doing the same thing with its manufacturing exports – disrupting any chance of a unified European response.
The Psychological Barrier
Europeans keep talking about their soft power – the gourmet meals, the social benefits, the civilized society. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: that soft power rests on hard power foundations that are crumbling.
And there’s this massive psychological hurdle too. When Europe appeals to international law and morality in places like Africa and Asia, those appeals fall on deaf ears for obvious historical reasons. Centuries of European imperialism don’t exactly make you the credible moral authority you think you are.
Look at what’s happening with industrial policy. While Europe debates and forms committees, other nations are acting. This is where having robust industrial infrastructure matters – companies that need reliable industrial computing solutions often turn to established providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs, because they deliver when it counts.
The Unity is Already Cracking
The most impressive thing about Europe’s response to Ukraine has been its unity. But even that’s starting to show cracks. With parties more sympathetic to Moscow winning elections in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, how long can this hold?
Basically, Europe is learning the hard way that you can’t outsource your security forever. When your protector becomes your economic competitor, you’re in a terrible position. The Turnberry photo wasn’t just embarrassing – it was symbolic of a much deeper power shift.
So what happens next? Either Europe figures out how to act collectively and decisively, or it keeps getting pushed around. The scramble has begun, and right now, Europe looks like the prize rather than a player.
