The interests of Europe and America overlap, but they are not congruent. Creating a capable European security organization to handle purely European contingencies makes sense. Developing such a capability also would transform Europe into a true ally instead of a glorified U.S. protectorate, which could prove crucial if it becomes necessary to confront a menace to the entire transatlantic community. The Trump administration should foster that development, not blindly follow previous administrations and seek to sabotage it.

Ted Galen Carpenter, a senior fellow in defense and foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute and a contributing editor at the National Interest, is the author or editor of twenty-one books on international affairs, including four books on NATO.

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