Twelve years ago, in 2025, the signs were all too obvious. Europe was fast becoming a land of monuments and museums, and facing a future of inexorable decline. Over regulated and under resourced, the Old Man of the world was going downhill, rapidly.

Things came to a head when Donald Trump won a second term, and decided Europe was no longer his problem, unless there were beneficial trade deals to be done. America had its own challenges, with a mountain of debt and dwindling superpower status. Trump was determined to put America first, even if that meant doing oil and gas deals with Russia, carving up Ukraine, and leaving Europe to its own devices. He had China to contend with.

Shocked at being tossed to the wolves, the EU quickly mended Brexit fences with the UK, their strongest remaining ally. Having relied on the ‘Brussels Factor’ for so long – that products had to meet EU standards and regulations – Europe faced the awful realization that the only way to regain their own agency and remain a significant world power was to re-arm, re-build, and re-invigorate their economies. Taking a hatchet to the mountains of red tape strangling local business and industry was just the first step.

With Net Zero, ESG and DEI out the window, Europe could open the taps to Norwegian gas and North Sea oil. Boosting defence budgets meant more work for German and British weapons manufacturers and French aerospace contractors. Trade walls went up against China and India, and EU-wide subsidies were announced to re-industrialize the heartland. Now the regulators embraced innovative ideas like robotics, AI, autonomous vehicles, and eVTOL passenger drones – for civil and military use.

The greens and leftists howled in frustration, but they were in the minority. Woke ideology was abandoned in the face of an existential threat; the very thought that Europe could become insignificant in world affairs was too horrific to contemplate. Immigration was encouraged – but only the ‘right’ kind of immigration. Productive young people with skills and ideas were welcomed; refugees and asylum seekers were shown the door.

It’s been a long, hard, tough road to follow, and often a bitter struggle, internally and externally. But in the end, Europe can thank Trump for the shock treatment that jolted them out of a comfortable, gradual, slide into obscurity. Europe is back, and great again.