If the New World had a philosopher, it would be Thomas Hobbes. It would involve an account of the power of the Leviathan, Hobbes’ discussion of the necessity of an absolute sovereign.

Hobbes was born prematurely after his mother heard that the Spanish Armada was nearing England in 1588. He claimed: ‘My mother gave birth to twins: myself and fear.’

The apocalyptic arrival of Trump has given birth to fear. It hangs like the Sword of Damocles over Europe.

Nations previously unconcerned by geopolitics are now being de-elected. Europe only has itself to blame. The blissful ostrich-like reticence to confront realpolitik amidst the crippling burden of the liberal state and regulation has bankrupted the continent. With no growth or investment, a reliance on cheap Russian gas has developed along with the outsourcing manufacturing jobs to the Chinese. And they wonder why the working class of Europe feels unrepresented. The political Brahmins in Brussels need a DOGE clear-out. The entire European carcass is rotten. The gravy train has run out of steam.

The reality of the world’s political economy has been visible throughout the 20th Century. It should be of no surprise that it is based on a Keynesian War economy. Russia’s economic growth is largely due to this. Russian towns and villages are undergoing economic resurgence as widows receive large payments for dead sons. The sight of body bags and hardship is par for the course in Russia. The gentle folk in Europe have some powerful reckoning to face. Whilst Europe’s liberal elites have been waiting for Godot – the Russians have been investing in war.

As Hobbes elicited, without the powerful Leviathan of the state, life would be ‘nasty, brutish, and short’. In Europe, the proxy state, the European Union, has abnegated responsibility for security to Nato. It has been tantamount to bureaucratic inertia. The state as ‘extractor’ rather than facilitator. The Kiel Institute this week gave an inkling to the scale of the problem:

‘The authors assume that Europe would have to deploy around 50 additional brigades with a total of 300,000 soldiers. For this, at least 1,400 new main battle tanks and 2,000 infantry fighting vehicles would be required, which would exceed the current stocks of the entire German, French, Italian, and British land forces. In addition, Europe would have to produce around 2,000 long-range drones every year.’

As Starmer meets with Trump in Washington there are two huge questions for Britain in this. The first is: will Starmer get more than the 11 minutes given to Polish President Andrzej Duda.

Jokes aside, the desperate shuttle diplomacy of the Europeans is indicative of the dramatic shift in power between the continents.

Starmer has pledged a 2.5 per cent increase in defence spending. Yet is this enough? Spending 3.5 to 4 per cent of GDP annually would give the European nations approximately 250 billion euros per year for defence. The British will no doubt tax the working class to recoup the money rather than greater structural fiscal changes like those in the US. It should not be taken from ordinary people’s earnings and taxes. This would be a recipe for social discontent or worse. It does, however, need a radical shift in philosophy.

To pay for defence we need a radical shift in fiscal emphasis. The money needs to be diverted from wasteful government spending. A cull of indolent civil service wastage (i.e., civil service ‘credit cards’), the abolition of ‘unnecessary’ funding for liberal projects of little consequence, proper control of expenditure on the NHS etc. These savings would not be damaging to the functioning of the country, but would enable the country to defend itself. This money would be spent on recruitment and investment for the armed forces. Spent effectively this would produce a Keynesian boost to the economy.

The second part of the new European alignment means a new economic deal for Europe, which must include Britain. There are two threats; the Trump tariffs and the strength of China. Therefore, strengthening the single market, trimming bureaucracy, abolishing self-destructive climate barriers, and increased European innovation will be necessary to respond to the new threats. New trade partnerships can be sought with the global south. For all of this, we need high calibre people on board. Liberal recruitment strategies need to be jettisoned.

The Federal Statistical Office in Germany cited that gross value added in the manufacturing sector has declined by 3 per cent in 2024. This is most evident in the Automotive Industry and Mechanical Engineering. These core industries need to be protected from Trump’s import tariffs. Europe needs independent defence but also independent industry. The belief that the tech sector will arrive like a deux ex machina from Olympus, with a magical solution, is wishful thinking. Europe needs to start reading the room.

The old elites of Europe, from Van Der Leyen to Starmer, have betrayed the security of their respective nations. It is tantamount to historical negligence. No doubt they will scapegoat Trump. Trump is merely a symptom of the change in Geoeconomics since the second world war. The grouping into Grossraums (power blocs) whether the Chinese Silk Road diaspora or an expansionist US. The old assurances of social contracts, of human rights, of equalities have no meaning in the New World. It will be hurtful to liberal ears. The Leviathan rules the roost. Some nations are reforming, it is a wake-up call.

Yet there is a ghost in the room. How many of the present European working class would go to war for the European Union?

Those governments who have consistently betrayed their own indigenous working class?

In Britain, according to a YouGov poll, 7 per cent of young people said they would join the military if war broke out with Russia. Compare that to the exultant call-ups at the beginning of the first world war. Something has radically shifted; it is a self-abnegating loathing of country, family and community. Will Starmer be able to persuade Trump that the old world is worth preserving? Yet would Europe start a DOGE reform? That will be Trump’s mantra. The left has demoralised Europe, infantilised it and bankrupted it. Europe is the ‘sick man’ of the world. The continent needs an operation and the surgeon sits in Washington.

Brian Patrick Bolger LSE, University of Liverpool. He has taught political philosophy and applied linguistics in universities across Europe. His articles have appeared in the US, the UK, Italy, Canada and Germany. He is an adviser to several Think Tanks and Corporates on Geopolitical Issues.