The European Union (EU) member states' leaders realize that after Donald Trump's return to the White House, they can no longer count on the US to ensure the EU's security, writes the European publication of Politico.

Brussels and Washington now need to review the terms of their cooperation in the defense sector. After the creation of NATO in 1949, the US assumed responsibility for the defense of this alliance's European member states. But the EU must now take much greater responsibility for ensuring its own security, not only because of the changed situation in the world, but also because America's interest in defending the EU is diminishing. Moreover, Europe does not have the military resources necessary to assist Ukraine without considerable help from the US.

As the economic situation in European countries worsens year by year, the Trump administration is reviewing Europe’s place in the complex global strategic landscape, and is likely to often clash with it on issues like Ukraine, Russia, China, trade, and climate. In his opinion, US Vice President JD Vance’s speech at the Munich Security Conference not only caused shock and indignation in the EU, but also showed that the abyss between Europe and Trump’s America is getting bigger..

Vance, speaking at the aforesaid conference in Munich on February 14, slammed the EU for censorship, including blocking social media. Also, he emphasized that Europe is afraid of its own voters and is useless to the US in this situation. The US vice president added that migrant crimes are repeated again and again in the EU, but they can be avoided by tightening border controls.