European security

German Chancellor Angela Merkel caused a stir in May when she said: "It's no longer the case that the United States will simply just protect us. Rather, Europe needs to take its fate into its own hands. That's the task for the future."

On Monday, it was French President Emmanuel Macron's turn to emphasize that "Europe can no longer entrust its security to the United States alone." "It's up to us to guarantee our security, and thus European sovereignty," he said in a foreign policy speech.

It was no coincidence, of course, that the leaders of the Franco-German axis were on the same page. They have obviously been discussing such issues. US President Donald Trump's posturing has had a catalytic effect. Brexit too has most likely played a part, though London has vowed that it will continue to be part of European security.

That said, there are a few points that...