Europe at a crossroads: Urgent reforms needed for sovereignty, defense, and unityEurope stands at a strategic crossroads, trapped between competing pressures from the United States, Russia, and China. Europe has attempted to signal new avenues of strategic engagement, such as the recent landmark free trade agreement with India. Years of underinvestment, fragmented regulations, and dependency on external suppliers have weakened Europe’s strategic sectors. Once a symbol of unity and cooperation, the Franco-German partnership now struggles with profound disagreements spanning energy, trade, foreign policy, and defense. Without agreement on fundamental strategic questions, Europe cannot develop coherent defense structures or act decisively when crises arise.