Europe is undergoing a profound strategic realignment as top leaders openly advocate for significantly greater autonomy from the United States in security policy. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz explicitly stated that Europe must become "significantly more autonomous from the United States in terms of security policy," marking a departure from decades of transatlantic reliance [2]. Simultaneously, French President Emmanuel Macron has championed the reduction of risks related to major powers to enhance European independence, framing the move as essential for the continent's future sovereignty [2].
The push for autonomy is not merely rhetorical but is translating into concrete policy proposals across the continent. Leaders are now discussing the need to forge their own path by increasing the production of semiconductors within Europe and developing domestic energy resources to secure critical supply chains [2]. More ambitiously, the conversation has expanded to include the potential development of a collaborative European nuclear deterrent, a concept that would fundamentally reshape the continent's defense architecture [2].
This geopolitical shift reflects a growing consensus that regulatory leadership alone is insufficient to protect European interests in an increasingly hostile global environment. Analysts argue that the EU faces an existential challenge as external powers leverage technological dependencies to pressure regulatory changes and influence domestic politics [3]. The response requires an integrated strategy that combines long-term industrial policy with instruments of resilience to deter technological coercion [3].
The momentum for this "Eurostack"—a European technological and industrial base—is driven by the urgent need to reduce economic and security risks stemming from external dependence [3]. By strengthening the technological and industrial base in critical areas, the EU aims to safeguard democracy and reinforce its position as a sovereign global actor capable of defending its own democratic space against digital interference [3].
