The United States is withdrawing from Europe, but it’s not all doom and gloom. The EU and non-members will need new common structures, but the continent should well be able to hold its own. Incoming German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will play a key role.

COVID-19 has forced Europeans to confront a twin shock to their worldview, with a philosophical crisis overlaid by a geographical one. The EU now needs to embark on a broad-based effort to ensure its strategic sovereignty.

Germany should stop worrying about becoming a “normal country.” Rather, it should learn to address the new forms of geopolitics with the best version of Germany’s post-war incarnation—for the benefit of Europe.