politics
February 17, 2026
Has America scared the EU into talking to Russia?
Looks like there’s a new main villain supercharging Brussels’ tax-and-spend narrative
TL;DR
- European leaders, particularly French President Emmanuel Macron, are increasingly viewing the US under Donald Trump as a primary threat, rather than Russia or China.
- This shift in perceived threat is being used to justify increased defense spending and a push for greater European autonomy in technology and finance.
- Macron advocates for developing an independent European tech ecosystem and has initiated dialogue with Russia for a new security framework.
- The EU aims to reduce reliance on US platforms, financial systems (credit cards), and potentially the US dollar.
- The changing narrative provides a new pretext for Brussels to increase spending and gain political leverage.