Just as a dormant volcano awakens to reshape the landscape, Europe must rise from the ashes of free-riding and become an active force in international affairs.
The recent passage of a stopgap funding bill by the U.S. Congress, one that notably lacks funding for military aid to Ukraine, is undoubtedly a concerning development. However, it serves as a stark reminder that Europe must play a more active role in providing assistance to its neighbor in distress. Europe, often criticized as a "free-rider continent," should cease its reliance on American efforts and take responsibility for its own security and global contributions.
For decades, Europe's defense has leaned
heavily on the United States, relegating it to a supporting role even as
conflicts unfold near its borders. Economically, Europe has often lagged behind
in innovation, preferring to catch up with rivals rather than lead the way.
Even its commendable environmental goals, crafted in Brussels, have been partly
facilitated by importing products from distant regions, products once
manufactured in carbon-intensive factories that Europe shuttered years ago.
While this approach may appear clever, it has allowed Europeans to enjoy a high
standard of living, shorter workweeks, and early retirement.
Defense has been a particularly contentious
issue for Europe. The collective military spending of the 34 European countries
within NATO or the EU is less than half that of the United States, despite
having a larger economic output and nearly double the population. European NATO
members spend a mere 1.7% of GDP on their armed forces, well below the 2% NATO
target and significantly less than the 3.5% allocated by the United States.
Major European countries like Germany, Italy, and Spain fall short of their
defense spending commitments. These disparities persist despite increased
military spending after the U.S. signaled its pivot to Asia a decade ago, and
the uncertainties associated with Donald Trump's presidency.
Furthermore, Europe's military spending often
goes to redundant national programs and pensions instead of advanced equipment.
The recent events leading up to the conflict in Ukraine exposed these
deficiencies, with the United States shouldering basic military tasks such as
surveillance flights, while Europe complained about its limited access to
intelligence it had done little to produce.
The funds not allocated to defense efforts
could have been invested in groundbreaking innovation. Yet, Europe has continued
to lag behind others in research and development spending, dedicating a third
less of its GDP to this endeavor compared to the United States and Japan, and
even falling behind China. Economic theory suggests that poorer nations should
converge with richer ones as they learn from their practices. However, Western
Europeans remained a quarter less affluent than Americans in 1990 and continue
to lag behind today. They work shorter hours, benefiting from the efforts of
those who toil harder.
Some Europeans may dismiss the cutthroat
capitalist model of the United States, and even that of China. Nevertheless,
economists argue that such competitive systems create conditions for innovation
that Europe then adopts at a lower cost. Europe's more benevolent form of
capitalism has failed to produce globally competitive companies, with most
major tech firms originating from the United States or increasingly, Asia.
Pharmaceutical breakthroughs are funded by high American drug prices, with
government-run health systems in Europe subsequently procuring the same drugs
for less. While there have been some successes, such as German companies
pioneering mRNA vaccines, much of the groundbreaking research in science and
technology occurs at universities and companies outside of Europe.
Even the European Union's ambitious plans to
reduce its carbon footprint depend on the work done by others. The bloc's
pledge to achieve "net zero" emissions by 2050 is commendable, but a
portion of the progress made thus far is deceptive. Per capita emissions in
Denmark have fallen by approximately half since 2000, but the pollution it now
imports, due to the outsourcing of manufacturing to countries like China, has
surged during the same period. Accounting for the additional carbon emissions
generated in other countries reveals that Danish emissions have only decreased
by one-third.
Without putting it in so many words, while
the absence of military aid funding for Ukraine in the recent U.S. Congress
bill is concerning, it serves as a call to action for Europe. It is time for
Europe to shed its image as a "free-rider continent" and take on a
more active role in addressing its own security and global responsibilities.
Europe must stop relying solely on American efforts and embrace a greater sense
of responsibility and initiative.
Stuck Together?
As mentioned earlier, it is imperative for
Europe to assume greater responsibility and shed its reputation as the
"free-rider continent." The current spotlight is firmly fixed on
Europe's hesitancy in matters of defense. The disarray during the evacuation in
Afghanistan in 2021 served as a stark reminder of Europe's heavy reliance on
American assistance. However, the eruption of conflict in Ukraine underscores
this point even more profoundly.
In this crisis, it was the United States that
took the lead in raising the alarm, not the European Union. American forces
were the ones strategically deployed across the continent in a somewhat futile
attempt to deter Russia's actions. Emmanuel Macron of France notably and
provocatively hinted at the looming "brain death" of NATO back in 2019,
hoping to galvanize Europeans into assuming greater control over their own
defense. The French president might find solace in the fact that the alliance
appears to have regained its vigor. Despite his calls for "strategic
autonomy," the reality remains that America continues to maintain a firm
grip on leadership, with Europeans united in their willingness to follow.
Europe is beginning to grasp the limitations
of remaining in the backseat of global affairs. However, the journey towards
becoming a leader necessitates both the requisite resources and a clear sense
of purpose. Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine, remarkably, has sparked a
sense of unity among a diverse group of European nations, often embroiled in
internal discord within an imperfect union. In this context, the role of a
follower may no longer hold the same appeal. Europe must rise to the occasion,
cultivate its resources, and adopt a more assertive stance in shaping its own
destiny.
No comments:
Post a Comment