The European Union’s recent informal meeting on defense and transatlantic relations, convened by European Council President Antonio Costa, underscores the growing unease in European capitals about the future of the transatlantic alliance. The very framing of the meeting-questioning Europe’s security dependence on the United States-reflects a persistent anxiety that has only deepened since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Yet, amid this political turbulence, European leaders risk losing sight of the most pressing danger: the threat from the East.

European leaders’ apprehensions about Trump’s foreign policy should not distract them from the reality of their security situation. While NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte emphasized the importance of transatlantic defense cooperation during the meeting, much of the discussion centered on Europe’s concerns about Washington rather than the growing threats emanating from the East. This recalls a historical parallel to Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser’s response to the Six-Day War defeat in 1967. Nasser famously lamented that Egypt had expected its enemy from the East and North, yet it was blindsided by the West. However, this lesson remains instructive for Europe today: while leaders scrutinize the West, they risk overlooking more immediate dangers to the East.

Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the imperative for Europe to bolster its defense spending has never been clearer. Yet, instead of rallying around the urgency of reinforcing their military capabilities, many European leaders appear preoccupied with their grievances about US trade policies. French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent announcement that France will double its defense budget is an important step, but it was accompanied by warnings about US-EU trade disputes. By conflating security concerns with economic........

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