Finnish President Alexander Stubb, speaking at venues including the World Economic Forum in Davos and in Helsinki, delivered a clear message: Europe can take primary responsibility for its own defense. “Can Europe defend itself? My answer is unequivocally yes,” Stubb said, emphasizing that the continent could stand on its own against aggression, even “without the Americans.”

His remarks reflect long-standing conservative concerns that many European nations have relied too heavily on U.S. troops, intelligence, and nuclear deterrence while frequently falling short of NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target. For decades, this dependency has allowed European countries to benefit from American military might without investing adequately in their own forces. Finland’s own robust preparations—including high defense spending, modernized military infrastructure, and recent NATO accession—serve as a model for what a serious commitment to self-reliance looks like.

While acknowledging the importance of NATO and the U.S. partnership, Stubb stressed that European nations must be ready to act independently in a crisis. Supporters argue that stronger European militaries would improve deterrence, reduce reliance on American forces, and create a more balanced alliance in which Europe shoulders its fair share of defense responsibilities. Critics, however, warn that moving too far from U.S. support could strain NATO cohesion, especially given ongoing Russian aggression along the eastern flank and other global security challenges.

Stubb’s comments also come amid debates on EU strategic autonomy, military modernization, and transatlantic burden-sharing. They suggest that Finland and its European partners are preparing to take defense into their own hands, investing in capabilities that allow them to act decisively without needing direct American intervention, even while maintaining strong diplomatic and strategic ties with the United States.