It’s been a week when Europe came to understand that the bloc’s decades-long dependency on the US for additional military protection might no longer be guaranteed.
As the US pivots away from Europe and towards Russia, saying there are now “incredible opportunities” for US-Russia co-operation if the war in Ukraine could be brought to a speedy end, Europe has been forced to quickly assess its own defence capabilities.
The new pro-Russia mood in Washington was evidenced by the sidelining of Europe – and Ukraine – in talks to end the war.
So what does Europe have to do to increase its defence capabilities?
And in a scenario where a peace is brokered in Ukraine, at that country’s expense, and a newly emboldened Russia considers further expansion, does Europe have the military prowess to push Putin’s army back?
Irish Times Europe correspondent Jack Power explains how Europe is reacting to the shifting alliances which has brought Putin in from the diplomatic cold, and emphasised its military weakness; while crime and security correspondent Conor Gallagher explores imagined scenarios where Europe has to go it alone and defend itself without the help of its Nato partner, the US.
Presented by Bernice Harrison. Produced by Aideen Finnegan.
