The crucial role of Article 5: Can NATO hold without US leadership?

Europe’s security architecture is undergoing profound change. As the US reassesses its global priorities and questions grow over the future of transatlantic security, European governments face mounting pressure to strengthen their defence capabilities and rethink longstanding assumptions about NATO.

In the second episode of Making Defence European Again, Celia Bélin, policy fellow and head of ECFR’s Paris office, Jana Kobzová, senior policy fellow and co-director of ECFR’s European Security programme, Marta Prochwicz Jazowska, policy fellow and deputy head of ECFR’s Warsaw office and Paweł Zerka, senior policy fellow, examine what the evolving transatlantic relationship means for European security. They discuss the implications of shifting US military commitments, the future of NATO’s collective defence and how European countries are responding to an uncertain strategic environment.

The conversation explores the significance of Article 5, the growing role of eastern European states such as Poland in strengthening deterrence, and the opportunities and challenges in building a more resilient European security architecture. They also consider the impact of American political uncertainty and how Europe can enhance its strategic autonomy while preserving strong transatlantic cooperation.

Making Defence European Again is a four-part podcast series in which ECFR fellows discuss the key challenges shaping the future of European security and defence.

This work was supported in part by a grant from the Open Society Foundations.

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Making defence European again (policy brief)