For anyone who might’ve tuned out during history class, here’s a quick reminder: Europe used to be a hotspot for wars. Think of World War I and World War II — both massive conflicts that started in Europe with countries like Germany and France right at the center. And before that, the 19th century was full of battles like the Napoleonic Wars, the Crimean War, and the Franco-Prussian War. Back then, fighting over territory and power was practically Europe’s favorite pastime.
But something remarkable happened after WWII ended in 1945. Europe, a continent once defined by wars, entered a period of relative peace. Sure, there were exceptions — the violent breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s and some of Russia’s aggressive actions against former Soviet states — but compared to its own history, Europe has been shockingly calm for the past 80 years.
Two major players helped make that peace possible: NATO and the European Union. These institutions brought together countries that had spent centuries fighting each other and gave them a shared mission. NATO provided military cooperation and security, while the EU created deep economic ties. By intertwining their economies, these nations made war between them too costly and destructive to even consider.
That’s why it’s so strange when people misunderstand the purpose of these institutions. Take Donald Trump’s claim that the EU was created to hurt the United States — that’s just flat-out wrong. In reality, the EU and NATO were designed to stabilize Europe and, by extension, the world. The peaceful, prosperous Europe we see today didn’t just happen by accident — it’s the result of decades of careful collaboration and mutual support.
This misconception reminds me of the anti-vaccine movement. When people stop seeing diseases around them, they assume vaccines aren’t necessary anymore. Similarly, because Europe has been so peaceful for so long, some people forget how fragile that peace actually is.
On top of all this, the EU is a massive economic partner for the US. American companies sell tons of products to Europe, and we buy theirs. This exchange creates jobs, wealth, and innovation on both sides of the Atlantic. Trump’s narrow view of economics misses the bigger picture: global trade and strong alliances make the US more powerful and prosperous.
Yes, there’s a debate over whether European countries should spend more on their own defense. But Trump’s approach overlooks a key point: America’s military dominance puts us in a position of global leadership. If Europe were to ramp up its military spending to US levels, it could shift the balance of power — and potentially bring back the kind of great-power conflicts Europe worked so hard to leave behind.
The peace we see in Europe today is no accident. It’s the product of smart alliances, economic interdependence, and a shared commitment to stability. Forgetting that history — or taking it for granted — could lead us right back to the chaos that defined Europe for centuries.
