By Jonas Malmgren

‘A painful realisation’ - That’s how a report this week has characterised the new status quo around European defence, that Europe can no longer rely on the United States to protect it.

The document, released to coincide with the start of the Munich Security Conference (MSC) this week, suggests the West is going through a period of wrecking ball politics - where ‘demolition men’ with a ‘lust for destruction’ seek to break up alliances, precedents and norms.

So what should one do in the face of the demolition men and their wrecking balls, intent on tearing things down? To my mind, the only path forward is to build.

The US’ withdrawal from (and in some cases antagonism towards) European defence should act as the perfect wake up call. Europe must become stronger and more independent on the world stage, and more united within, building both infrastructure and alliances.

What some characterise as the destruction of the existing Western order comes at a time of unprecedented external threat; Russia gaining strategic initiative in Ukraine; China seeking regional dominance and global trade threatened and disrupted by hostile actors.

Luckily, Europe is already making great........

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