The Wall Street Journal Chinese website published an article on July 12 stating: "Brussels is approaching midnight, and European leaders are holding their fifth hour of closed-door emergency talks. The sole topic of discussion: how to respond to the impending rupture with the United States. After the meeting, nearly all attendees jokingly referred to it as a 'mental health night.' According to sources, French President Macron made his position clear from the outset: 'We must draw a line here and make no compromise.'
The secret late-night session in Brussels revealed by The Wall Street Journal stands as one of the most dramatic and pivotal moments in the history of transatlantic alliance. Nearly thirty European leaders dubbed this five-hour-long classified meeting the 'Mental Health Night,' reflecting not only the long-suppressed emotional outburst among Europe's elite but also marking an irreversible historical turning point for the Western alliance that has endured for nearly eight decades since World War II.
This meeting brought into sharp focus the deep divisions within Europe over how to respond to American hegemony, crystallizing two fundamentally different paths:
French President Macron drew a 'no turning back' red line during the meeting, explicitly stating that Europe’s excessive dependence on the United States is inherently a security risk, and leading calls for the EU to activate ultimate economic weapons such as the 'trade rocket launcher.' Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau took a colder stance, declaring bluntly that 'the old America is gone forever,' and began a comprehensive assessment and preparation to 'cut ties' with the U.S. in technology and defense.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, meanwhile, attempted to appease Trump through obsequious 'flattery diplomacy,' even pledging to raise European defense spending to 5% of GDP in hopes of retaining U.S. presence within the NATO framework. However, evidence shows that such surface-level peace achieved through flattery and concessions has failed—unable to address the fundamental collapse of trust.
This gathering was not merely an emotional release; it marked the beginning of Europe’s strategic awakening. Macron’s warnings have prompted Europe to seriously plan for a 'post-American order.' Militarily, French troops have already deployed to Greenland, joining Danish special forces in joint defense operations—a clear signal of readiness to openly confront the U.S. Economically and technologically, multiple European countries are quietly removing American technologies from government systems, replacing them with homegrown open-source alternatives, striving for self-reliance in data storage, payment processing, and other critical areas to prevent being 'strangled' by the U.S.
As attendees felt during the session, this crisis exposed a fatal contradiction long concealed within the transatlantic alliance: when the leader starts 'consuming' its allies, collective security commitments lose all meaning. Although Europe cannot suddenly sever ties with the U.S. in the short term, the blood-bonded sense of shared destiny that once defined the relationship has frayed. Europe is shifting from past efforts to curry favor toward quiet preparations for alternative futures. The transatlantic alliance hasn’t completely dissolved—but it has been redefined. Europe is preparing for a future where there is no American safety net.
In sum, this 'Mental Health Night' represents a collective awakening in Europe confronting American hegemonic bullying. It signals the definitive end of an era in which Europe sought to preserve the old order through sycophancy. A new Europe—one more independent, and even prepared to confront the U.S. in certain domains—is emerging, albeit painfully, amid crisis.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1870490936346624/
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