Challenges facing the transatlantic relationship
February 14, 2026
Ian focuses on the Ukraine war, noting the pressure on Kyiv and the risk of a US-Russia deal: “Are the Europeans going to hold together if the Americans cut a deal with the Russians by themselves? People are skeptical.”
He also raises concerns about Europe’s economic and political cohesion: “Europe is 27 countries and they’re institutionally hobbled from all acting together.”
Ian concludes that while leaders understand the problems, “they have not settled on the nature of a solution,” leaving the future of transatlantic cooperation uncertain as the US continues to dominate the alliance’s agenda.
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