Israel must not turn its back on Europe

It is perfectly logical that Israel feels more than ever connected to the United States, particularly to Donald Trump. The American president offers the country seemingly unconditional support. But, as a European, I argue that Israel would be making a mistake—one that runs counter to its own interests—if it were to turn exclusively to the United States while neglecting the European Union.

Trump’s arrival at the White House marked the completion of a geopolitical shift: the abandonment of international law in favor of pure power relationship dynamics. He has casually floated the idea of annexing Greenland—a territory that, while autonomous, remains part of the Kingdom of Denmark—and even suggested making Canada the 51st U.S. state. I spend part of my time in Canada, and I can assure that Canadians people take this threat very seriously. They feel betrayed by what they considered to be one of their closest friends. Trump has imposed prohibitive tariffs on allied countries, including Canada (though he later suspended them when the economic damage to the U.S. became too evident). His vice president, J.D. Vance, has openly expressed sympathy for the AfD, the Germany’s far-right party, whose leadership includes figures who can legitimately be suspected of harboring Nazi sympathies. Meanwhile, Trump’s America has abandoned Ukraine’s democracy in favor of Putin’s dictatorship. The Trump administration is not offering Ukraine a peace plan—it is offering a capitulation, one that would allow Russia to massively rearm. Every liberal democracy should be deeply concerned.

This last point should be of particular concern to Israel. Russia is fighting against Ukraine’s democracy with the help of North Korean soldiers and Iranian military equipment—especially drones and likely short-range ballistic missiles. Since 2022, Western economic sanctions have limited the effectiveness of Russia’s aggression by increasing the cost of its rearmament and restricting its ability to upgrade its weapons. But if a future Trump administration lifts these sanctions, Russia, in alliance with Iran, will be able to significantly boost both the quantity and quality of its military capabilities. Russia, Iran, and North Korea are military allies.

In a blog post for The Times of Israel, international relations professor Emmanuel Navon pointed out a paradox: Israel’s diplomatic alignment with its main ally, the United States, is forcing it closer to regimes that threaten it. On February 24, Israel voted at the UN—alongside the U.S., Syria, and North Korea—against a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Iran abstained. As Navon put it, American support for Israel comes at a cost.

The Trump administration’s approach to international and economic relations is purely transactional, recognizing only power dynamics. This means the U.S. sees itself as free to abandon past alliances—its deteriorating relationship with Canada is a case in point—while its ties with EU nations deteriorates. Under this administration, American diplomacy lacks predictability. It follows an imperialist logic, willing to sacrifice allies in favor of aggressive powers like Russia.

Of course, American civilization is built on freedom and the rule of law, and there is no doubt that this diplomatic chapter will eventually close. The U.S. remains an economic and military giant, and maintaining strong ties with this great nation is essential. But Israel should also recognize that Europe is waking up. The EU’s March 7 summit marked decisive steps toward its own security: increased budgetary flexibility to invest in defense, joint borrowing for military procurement, and ramped-up arms deliveries to Ukraine. Moreover, Europe’s defense industry covers the entire military value chain. Our continent can produce everything a modern military needs, from basic ammunition to the most advanced optical systems. The next step is to scale up production, and that is exactly what we are doing. Israel and the European Union could strengthen their military cooperation to the benefit of both parties, particularly in the field of cyber threats, where Israel has advanced expertise and EU countries have production capabilities.

In short, Israel must keep in mind that the European Union today represents a major pillar of stability for defenders of liberal democracy.