Last week’s European summit was, as previous summits before it, dominated by the geopolitical travails of the European Union.

The curse of Donald Trump has not failed to make its mark. After Anthony Albanese in Australia and Mark Carney in Canada, Péter Magyar wins elections in Hungary despite the open support of the American president for his opponent.

While recognising battlefield realities, a genuine European peace would not reward but check Russian aggression while seeking to ensure the future security and prosperity of Ukraine. What conditions would this take? 

Illegal drones escalate Russia's scope and policy of intimidation, intended to divide or destabilize Europe in its collective resistance to Russian aggression and expansion.

Ukraine’s future will continue to loom large, but 2026 should be the year of real European geopolitics in relation to the US and China.

Europe collectively faces a binary choice. It can take the blue pill, chose to disregard reality and continue down the path of humiliation, becoming a playing ground for international powers while managing its own geopolitical decline.

The reality TV show called ‘Donald Trump, The Sequel’ continues apace. After the announcement of "Liberation Day" in early April, the world has now entered a new era of a near universal cold trade war, with America as the key instigator.

European security cannot only be built from the top down. It starts with people—citizens who are aware, engaged, and prepared. Civil buy-in and resilience are not secondary or symbolic; they are foundational to modern security.