Production: By Europod, in co-production with Sphera Network.
EUobserver is proud to have an editorial partnership with Europod to co-publish the podcast series “Briefed” hosted by Léa Marchal. The podcast is available on all major platforms.
You can find the transcript here if you prefer reading:
Nato is once again under fire from American threats.
US president Donald Trump is furious over the EU’s repeated refusals to support, even indirectly, his war efforts.
Are Europeans finally firmly standing up againstTrump?
If Europeans don’t help the US, the US won’t help Europeans. For Donald Trump, the equation is that simple. Legal or democratic considerations? They barely matter.
“You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the US won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us”.
That’s the message the US president posted on his social media platform, Truth Social.
How did we get here?
In recent weeks, Trump has faced multiple rejections from European leaders after asking for small favours to support his war in the Middle East.
Spain was the first to openly oppose the conflict. In early March, Spanish prime minister Pedro Sánchez refused to allow US warplanes access to Spanish airbases.
Since then, others have followed. The UK declared it doesn’t want to get involved in a war that isn’t its own. Poland refused to send a Patriot missile battery to the Middle East.
More surprisingly, Italy — one of the few European countries maintaining friendly ties with Trump — just denied US planes access to a Sicilian airbase.
France and Germany have also made it clear they don’t want to be drawn into the conflict. French president Emmanuel Macron even described the Israeli-American war effort as a violation of international law.
Are Europeans openly opposing Donald Trump’s policies?
Openly not so much.
In Italy’s case, the defence minister explained that the base in question was meant for logistical or regular flights, not warplanes. The decision wasn’t about taking a stance on the war in Iran — it was about following the rules, he said.
But more broadly, there is a growing trend to oppose Donald Trump: Europeans are asserting themselves in the face of relentless threats from the US president.
The EU is increasingly vocal about its commitment to international law and is resisting calls to intervene. For example, to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
EU member states believe the US and Israel started the attacks on Iran outside international law, so it’s up to them to resolve the issue.
Does this mean the EU is ready to abandon transatlantic relations — and Nato?
Not yet. The US remains a crucial ally under the North Atlantic Treaty. In the event of a Russian attack, Europe would very much need American support.
That doesn’t mean Europe isn’t preparing for the worst. According to Euractiv, the European Commission is currently drafting guidelines on activating the EU’s mutual assistance clause—essentially, a European alternative to Nato's mutual defence clause.
The EU knows Donald Trump might let them down, and they’re getting ready to rely on their own resources.
The European stance on transatlantic relations remains consistent: the close ties must be preserved. The EU and the US are allies, and they should stay that way.
But a growing number of European leaders are just tired of being pushed around by the current US president. They’re hardening their tone and reaffirming their commitment to a rules-based, multilateral system.
Are oil markets too optimistic?
