Is Europe ready for a future without the US?

This episode of 'Today in Focus' examines the growing anxiety across Europe following Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany, a move framed as punishment for German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's criticism of U.S. foreign policy in Iran. The episode centers on Landshul, a German town with a deep American military and cultural presence dating back to 1945, where U.S. troops and their families have lived for over eight decades. Deborah Cole, The Guardian’s Germany correspondent and an American herself, describes the emotional and economic dependence of local communities on the American military, from the Rammstein Air Base to everyday businesses like Schwing's Chicken. She highlights how the U.S. presence in Germany is not just defensive but strategic—serving as a critical hub for NATO operations, Middle East deployments, and global military projection. The episode explores how Trump’s rhetoric, including threats to withdraw from NATO and target allies like Spain and Italy, has shattered the post-war transatlantic consensus. European leaders are now scrambling to increase defense spending, reintroduce conscription, and even discuss a European army, but experts warn these efforts are too slow and too fragmented to counter a nuclear-armed Russia. The collapse of trust in U.S. reliability has exposed deep fissures within Europe, threatening decades of unity built on American security guarantees. Despite recent commitments to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, many fear it’s too little, too late—and that future U.S. leadership could be just as unpredictable. Key takeaways include: 1) The U.S. military presence in Germany is not just about defense but is a linchpin for global U.S. military operations; 2) European nations are only now beginning to take defense seriously, but their efforts are hampered by historical pacifism and political fragmentation; 3) The withdrawal of U.S. troops risks reigniting old rivalries and destabilizing NATO; 4) The idea that Europe can defend itself without the U.S. is widely seen as unrealistic by current leaders and experts; 5) The U.S.-Europe alliance, once a cornerstone of post-war stability, is now under existential threat; 6) European unity may be more fragile than assumed, especially if the U.S. continues to act unilaterally; 7) The psychological and cultural impact of American presence in towns like Landshul runs deep, making withdrawal not just a strategic loss but an emotional one; 8) The long-term geopolitical shift may force Europe to confront its own military identity and sovereignty.