Robert Pszczel on the perils of European strategic autonomy

Pszczel, who previously led the Nato information bureau in Moscow and now serves as an analyst for Warsaw’s Centre for Eastern Studies, warns against conflating current US administrative policies with the fundamental nature of the transatlantic relationship. While European capitals grapple with a perceived deprioritisation of the continent by Washington, the former diplomat maintains that pursuing independent military structures risks accelerating the very disengagement leaders in Brussels fear most.

The strategic debate arrives at a volatile moment. Intelligence agencies across Europe have flagged an uptick in hybrid warfare, including drone incursions and sabotage campaigns. Danish intelligence recently cautioned that Moscow might consider limited military provocations in the coming months. Despite these threats and the shift in US focus, Pszczel remains wary of reactionary policies that might fracture the Nato framework while the eastern border remains reliant on American military presence.