Brussels Sprouts The United States, Iran, and the Risk to NATO
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Mar 27, 2026 
Jeremy Shapiro, research director at ECFR focused on U.S. foreign policy, and Cathryn Clüver Ashbrook, EVP at the Bertelsmann Foundation on European policy, discuss Europe's cautious reaction to U.S.-Iran tensions. They explore why many leaders call it "not our war." They debate Europe’s dependence on the U.S., suggestions for naval escorts and hedging, and long-term shifts in transatlantic ties.
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Europe Sees Iran Campaign As A War Of Choice
- Europeans broadly view the U.S.-led Iran campaign as a war of choice and feel the economic and political consequences acutely.
- Germany sees direct fallout in energy, fertilizer, and industrial policy debates, prompting talks of reindustrialization and defense shifts.
Europeans Hate The Policy But Still Accommodate US Needs
- Jeremy Shapiro argued Europeans think the U.S. action is unwise but still accommodate U.S. military needs because of dependence.
- France sent an aircraft carrier while publicly condemning the intervention, illustrating the paradox.
Europe Accepts No Return To Pre Trump Transatlantic Reality
- Europeans are accepting a long-term shift in the U.S. role and talking about strategic sovereignty and industrial resilience.
- Germany discusses nuclear debates, VW moving into defense, and plans to restart innovation engines.