As the United States celebrates its semiquincentennial, it’s worth considering that for nearly a third of the nation’s existence, we have been formally tied to, and treaty-obligated to defend, NATO allies (and vice versa). This North Atlantic alliance, for the past 77 years, has served as one of the few truly irreplaceable foundations of American prosperity and security, as well as a wellspring for American influence and power across the globe.
Today, as the United States faces steep challenges from the China-led authoritarian bloc, some question whether we have the spare attention or resources to remain actively engaged in Europe. The question we should really be asking is: how can we afford not to? Europe remains as vital to American interests in 2026 as it was at the height of the Cold War. A robust transatlantic alliance will be key to ensuring that the future our children and grandchildren inherit is in a Western-led world, not a dystopian, authoritarian-led one.