We do need those things, but instead of being held captive by the Americans forever, we are slowly but surely phasing them out and transitioning to sustainable European alternatives.

I will forever be thankful for President Donald Trump because his erratic and insane behaviour has woken Europe up. But we need to learn the lessons of this dependence and move on. No one says that we should do it by tomorrow, we will get there, given time. That's why a sustained political will by the general population is important.

If we reach strategic autonomy by 2030, we will already have reached a whole lot. Because that means we cannot be blackmailed anymore. And the remaining trade with the Americans can happen as partners instead of vassals. The EU has already built bridges with new continents and reached new partners who believe in the exact same democratic rules-based order the EU does. Well, the USA are still considered to be of vital importance on the world stage. I think that is changing. Because why be beholden to a conqueror, raider, and master if you can have equal partners cooperating towards the same goal? And I think it's exactly this mentality that China and the USA can never provide because they rely on intimidation and threats while the EU relies on mutual benefit and cooperation. Why choose a tyrant if you can choose a friend?