Judging Freedom Prof. Glenn Diesen : Europe’s Trust in the U.S. After Epstein
Feb 11, 2026
Prof. Glenn Diesen, a political scientist specializing in European foreign policy, discusses European reactions to Middle East tensions and economic risks from a wider Iran conflict. He examines NATO’s limits and Europe’s security dependence. He explores European perceptions of the Epstein disclosures, differing investigations, and how hearings and accountability play out across Europe.
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Europe's Quiet Support For U.S. Middle East Focus
- European governments publicly back U.S. actions even when privately relieved the U.S. focus shifts away from Europe.
- Glenn Diesen warns Europeans see U.S. Middle East engagements as both reassuring and destabilizing for their economies.
Energy Vulnerability Threatens European Legitimacy
- Europe is especially vulnerable to disruptions like a closed Strait of Hormuz because its economies lack cheap reliable energy and are deindustrializing.
- Diesen links energy chokepoints to political legitimacy crises for European leaders.
NATO Depends On Continued U.S. Commitment
- NATO currently depends on U.S. military capacity and could fragment if America withdraws its security guarantees.
- Diesen predicts European fragmentation rather than unified self-reliance should U.S. commitment wane.