In this regard, the EU appears little different from other close U.S. allies, including the United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea. The EU’s inability to effectively counter U.S. pressure stems primarily from its deep-rooted dependence on Washington across economic, military and strategic domains. The argument that economic and military consolidation is essential for Europe to regain its diplomatic and strategic agency is not new. Second, strategic concessions made to the United States have further undermined the EU’s economic autonomy. Looking ahead, European political elites may increasingly recognize that the United States is an unreliable partner and that Europe must chart a more autonomous path.