President Donald Trump is redefining America’s role in European security, positioning the nation as a “backup” superpower rather than the primary leader, especially concerning Ukraine. This new philosophy was a central point in a recent call with Vladimir Putin.
This redefinition of the U.S. role was solidified in an August 18 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and European officials. It was there that Trump laid out his expectation that Europe would step into the primary security role for Ukraine.
The essence of this new posture is that the “significant security guarantees” for Kyiv must be provided by its European neighbors. This shift is intended to encourage greater European self-reliance in defense matters.
This strategic change is part of a broader dialogue between Trump and Putin. Trump revealed that their conversations also extend to future ambitions, such as the mutual reduction of their nuclear arsenals, a topic discussed in an August 15 meeting in Alaska.