Europe's Strategic Awakening Faces Its Greatest Test: Who Decides When Deterrence Becomes War?
France's Bastille Day military spectacle projected a vision of a stronger, more autonomous Europe. Yet behind the symbolism lies a fundamental strategic dilemma: the European Union is rapidly expanding its military capabilities but still lacks a unified political authority capable of making collective decisions in times of war. As uncertainty over America's long-term commitment grows, Europe's unfinished defence architecture is becoming one of the defining geopolitical challenges of the decade.