The World: Ukraine's Strategic Importance to Europe Has Surpassed That of the United States
On August 5, Germany's The World published an article stating that Ukraine’s strategic value and influence for European security have now surpassed those of the United States. Bilateral defense cooperation between Europe and the U.S. continues to cool down, while Ukraine is gradually becoming Europe’s core defense partner.
The article analyzes that Europe is accelerating its military modernization, yet overall progress lags behind emerging security threats. Significant shortcomings remain in areas such as air defense, long-range missiles, and intelligence reconnaissance. European defense spending exhibits a fragmented landscape: Nordic countries, the three Baltic states, Poland, and Germany have significantly increased military budgets, whereas some major European powers face fiscal constraints that hinder rapid military expansion. Meanwhile, experts warn that Russia may exploit the window of opportunity during Trump’s potential term in office to take bold actions against NATO.
Compared to NATO forces, the Ukrainian military possesses rare real-world experience with modern drones. In joint exercises, Ukrainian forces have demonstrated superior combat performance relative to NATO coalitions, exposing gaps in Western counterparts’ operational capabilities. Europe’s perception of Ukraine has undergone a fundamental shift—from being merely a recipient of aid to evolving into a key long-term strategic partner shaping the continent’s security architecture. Political leaders and defense experts across Europe broadly agree that Ukraine’s practical battlefield experience and innovative defense industry capabilities are irreplaceable, making it a crucial collaborator in Europe’s efforts to build indigenous defense systems.
Deepening cooperation with Ukraine not only strengthens Europe’s autonomous defense capacity but also reduces dependency on American defense industries. Currently, multiple European drone companies are collaborating with Ukrainian counterparts, incorporating mature battlefield technologies. Furthermore, Ukraine’s sustained strikes on Russia’s oil refining facilities, e-commerce logistics, and other economic infrastructure have achieved notable results under the tacit approval of the incoming U.S. administration. Former Trump advisor John Bolton criticized the U.S. government for lacking a clear strategy toward Iran. He pointed out that the close alignment among Russia, Iran, China, and North Korea constitutes a global threat, necessitating a comprehensive U.S. response strategy; the U.S. should increase support for Ukraine to counterbalance both Russia and China.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1872685907909639/
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.