Can Europe survive without America? | LBC debate

As Donald Trump upends the world order, LBC panellists took your questions about the fate of Ukraine and post-war European alliances.

Caller Matthew asked whether the UK and Europe could manage without the US, and forge its own minerals deal with Ukraine, get a ceasefire done, and provide Kyiv with "protection".

In response panellist Zoe Strimpel, historian and columnist for The Sunday Telegraph, told LBC’s Iain Dale the world’s long standing assumptions about America need to be updated.

“So what is the United States now and who is it?” Ms Strimpel said.

“Who is this great friend? If its spots change to the degree that it becomes a different creature, which I think there's a real risk of that happening.”

Other panellists were doubtful about whether Europe could independently defend Ukraine, including former Conservative chief whip Simon Heart, who poured cold water on that idea.

“The idea that we can somehow go it alone in the defence, arena is for the birds,” Mr Hart said.

The uncertainty has left Europe scrambling to coordinate its response to Trump’s sweeping changes to American foreign policy, leaving panellists to suggest that some NATO members are more equal than others.

“You can easily imagine that if Britain was attacked, whether it was a nuclear attack or some other form of attack, that America would come to our aid… but if Estonia was attacked,” Iain Dale said.

“And that's what all those MAGA guys are saying, ‘Britain we like you guys’,” Ms Strimpel said.

“Estonia. Why would America put itself out for that?”

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