Amid Donald Trump’s policies, the UK, France, and Germany are forging closer ties, moving beyond rhetoric to tangible action. According to BBC sources, these three nations played a central role in facilitating talks between Ukraine and the US. Analysts predict they will assume greater responsibility for Europe’s security and reshape the continent’s defence industry.
A telling moment came last Friday when Rheinmetall’s market value in Germany overtook Volkswagen’s for the first time. As Matthias Koch, editor-in-chief of RedaktionsNetzwerk Deutschland, noted, Germans may be slow to act, but when they do, they move with precision. That systematic approach is why Friedrich Merz’s push for rearmament is being met with approval rather than alarm on the global stage.
The columnist also draws parallels to the arms programmes of the 1970s, highlighting the Leopard 2 tank, which was unmatched in its time.
“Social Democratic Chancellor Helmut Schmidt dedicated over three per cent of GDP annually to defence—far more than reunified Germany ever committed after becoming complacent in a globalised world. Back then, Western Europe stood its ground against Moscow. Today, the stakes are even higher. With Donald Trump sowing chaos in the White House, a united Europe must step up and embrace its newfound role as a global stabilising force,” writes Matthias Koch.
The renewed alignment between London, Paris, and Berlin offers a glimmer of hope. Japan, South Korea, and Australia have joined the conversation, once again invited over the weekend by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. As Koch points out, this strategy makes perfect sense—defending a rules-based international order aligns with the interests of democratic nations in the Pacific. They want to contain China and ensure that brute force does not override the rule of law, as seen in Ukraine.
Britain, too, is making moves. Starmer’s push for Western security guarantees in case Russia violates another ceasefire is a key initiative worth watching.
“It would be ideal if London could at least secure a form of insurance from Washington—a so-called ‘backstop’ for Europe. The continent isn’t yet fully prepared to stand on its own. Gaps remain in satellite technology, missile systems, and intelligence capabilities, all of which demand at least a transitional strategy,” says Matthias Koch.
Still, Europe’s long-term potential shouldn’t be overlooked. The continent remains home to an unparalleled concentration of advanced industrial production. If its engineering sector pivots more decisively toward defence, incorporating artificial intelligence, Russia could once again find itself at a technological disadvantage.
Paris is stepping up, taking a bolder approach to defence. Over the weekend, France sent an Awacs reconnaissance plane, flanked by two fighter jets, over the Black Sea—a clear sign it’s ready to give Kyiv high-resolution battlefield intel, no matter what Washington decides. At the same time, French forces carried out airborne drills in Greenland, and a cutting-edge nuclear submarine surfaced off the Canadian coast.
For both Putin and Trump, these are unsettling moves. But the real question is whether Europe’s new show of resolve will turn into real action—or just more tough talk.
