A Changing Alliance, an Enduring Relationship
Over the past few months, numerous articles, political statements and analyses have questioned the future of the transatlantic alliance. But are we really witnessing its end?
This question also raises another one: is focusing solely on the political and military alliance enough to assess the transatlantic relationship? Two books offer different perspectives on this debate: Pierre Haski’s La Fin d’un monde (The End of a World) and Jens Stoltenberg’s On My Watch.
The end of a world (La Fin d’un monde – Pierre Haski)?
Pierre Haski’s La Fin d’un monde looks at a world in transformation. He examines the rise of China, the growing influence of the Global South, France’s changing role in Africa and Europe’s difficulties in becoming a geopolitical power, and questions whether Western dominance can still be taken for granted.
This does not necessarily mean the end of the West. Haski rather describes the end of a world in which Western countries had an exceptional capacity to shape the international order.
For Europe, this raises an important question. European integration has created considerable economic and political weight. But does Europe have the means, and above all the political willingness, to become a geopolitical power corresponding to this weight?
For a more detailed analysis, read the full reading note on Pierre Haski’s La Fin d’un monde.
An alliance under pressure (On My Watch – Jens Stoltenberg)
Jens Stoltenberg’s On My Watch looks at these changes from inside NATO. His ten years as Secretary General were marked by Russia’s actions in Ukraine, debates over defense spending, Donald Trump’s first presidency, Afghanistan and the growing place of China in NATO’s strategic discussions.
One point is important: the debate over defense spending did not begin with Trump. The Obama administration was already calling for greater European defense contributions, and the 2% commitment was made at the 2014 Wales Summit. The debate continued under Trump, with a different tone and greater public attention.
At the same time, Stoltenberg describes an Alliance capable of adapting. NATO increased its focus on collective defense, reinforced its eastern flank and welcomed Finland and Sweden.
On My Watch is therefore not the story of an Alliance without disagreements. It is the story of an Alliance facing repeated internal and external challenges, while continuing to evolve.
For a more detailed analysis, read the full reading note on Jens Stoltenberg’s On My Watch.
Beyond the Political Alliance
The political and military alliance is currently the subject of significant debate. But the transatlantic relationship extends far beyond politics and defense. Cultural exchanges, economic relations, legal traditions and the many other connections between Europe and North America continue to exist.
Yet politics and defense are only one dimension of the transatlantic relationship. Beyond governments, connections remain visible in culture, science, universities, investment and trade. Even popular culture offers simple examples: Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, bringing together American and British filmmaking and talent from both sides of the Atlantic, is one of them. These connections are also rooted in centuries of exchanges that have influenced legal and political traditions on both sides of the Atlantic.
This raises the possibility that current debates are not only about the future of the transatlantic alliance, but also about how its political expression may evolve. Governments change, there are shifts in strategic priorities, and institutions evolve over time. The deeper ties between Europe and North America (historical, cultural and legal) are much older than the military alliance itself.
The question is therefore not only whether the transatlantic relationship will continue, but also what political form this long-lasting relationship may take in the world that is now emerging.
References
Haski, P. (2026). La fin d’un monde : Comprendre notre époque avec Pierre Haski. Stock.
Stoltenberg, J. (2025). On my watch: Leading NATO in a time of war. William Collins.
