Europe’s muted response on Iran

Europe and other US allies have largely muted their criticism of President Trump, publicly praising him and accommodating his policy choices, even in the face of direct economic attacks. Thomas Wright tells Ian Bremmer that this deference is driven less by agreement than by fear: many European countries lack a credible Plan B for their security without America.

“They’re absolutely terrified of breaking with him because they don’t have a plan B for their own security,” Wright notes. This fear has influenced key policy decisions, including taking on an “unfair trade agreement” without real retaliation, all to ensure US support on Ukraine and European security matters. He points to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s recent comments praising Trump as an example of this almost sycophantic approach.

Even as Europe tries to hedge and build its own capabilities, Wright emphasizes that they do not see a viable alternative in the near term. Their cautious approach is part of a broader strategy to stay aligned with the US, demonstrating loyalty and avoiding giving the President a reason to turn against them, even in crises like Iran or beyond NATO’s traditional areas of responsibility.