Europe eyes strategic autonomy as it trims US dependencies

The EU is accelerating efforts to reduce dependence on the United States across technology, energy, payments, and defense, framing the move as 'de-risking' rather than decoupling, while the U.S. remains Europe’s largest trading partner and NATO’s security guarantor for now. Brussels is pursuing European tech substitutes, diversifying energy suppliers (Canada, Qatar, North Africa), advancing the digital euro, and strengthening EU defense planning and 'Buy European' rules to bolster strategic autonomy.