The war in Ukraine has made it clear that the United States of America continues to play a leading role in European security. Under the leadership of Joe Biden, the US is one of the most important global players when it comes to reacting to Russia’s war of aggression in Europe, and offsetting China’s ambitions in Asia. However, the US cannot guarantee long-term stability in both regions by itself. 

The deep-set differences of opinion in Europe and Asia regarding how to deal with Russia and China make it difficult to form alliances. Ensuring that Moscow and Beijing do not take advantage of these divisions has become a political issue for the US. At the same time, the war in Europe has brought the rivalry between the US and China to a head, confirming that the US’s primary focus is currently on competing with China, particularly in the technology sector. The conflict in Europe has made confronting this strategic challenge even more difficult. 

Looking ahead to the 2024 United States presidential election, Europe will have to come to terms with the possibility that a Republican government could see US support drastically reduced. Here in Germany, many of the debates are centered on delivering weapons and other forms of military support. However, Germany will soon have to deal with greater, more long-term demands for investments from the US and Europe if we want to overcome this current crisis, promote reconstruction efforts in Ukraine, and prevent the next escalation in Europe.

The original article was published in the recent Tagesspiegel supplement. You can read it here in German.