Part 6/7:
The precarious situation compels Europe to confront its longstanding avoidance of serious geopolitical engagement. A potential path forward could involve ramping up military production and bolstering defense budgets. In recent developments, several countries, particularly in the Baltics and Poland, have made significant increases in their military spending. France has even discussed deploying peacekeeping troops along Ukraine’s borders—a prospect that remains dubious.
Despite these steps, a key question persists: can Europe, acting independently of the U.S., become a formidable geopolitical actor? The current answer appears to be a tentative "not yet."