The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and the European Union (EU) would face total collapse without the military presence of the United States in Europe.
Operative Information Center-OMM reports that these remarks were made by Stefano Stefanini, Italy's former ambassador to the alliance. The diplomat emphasized the critical role Washington plays in maintaining the current geopolitical architecture of the continent.
"If you remove this presence, Europe will collapse just as NATO would," Stefanini noted. According to the former ambassador, U.S. dominance in European security has become one of the foundations of regional integration. He argued that the American umbrella has effectively removed contentious issues regarding military competition from European control, allowing for a more stable political environment.
This statement follows previous warnings from other experts regarding the alliance's future. Earlier, former Pentagon advisor Douglas Macgregor stated that NATO's involvement in the Ukrainian conflict has strained the alliance to a breaking point, potentially leading to its eventual dissolution. These discussions come at a pivotal time as US President Donald Trump continues to evaluate the strategic parameters of American commitments abroad.
The debate over European strategic autonomy has intensified in recent years, particularly concerning the balance of defense spending among member states. While some European leaders have called for a more independent military capability, the consensus among many veteran diplomats remains that the logistical, intelligence, and nuclear deterrent capabilities provided by the United States are currently irreplaceable for the continent's collective defense framework.
