Europe Remains Critical To Our Defense And To Securing The Free World

Steve Forbes warns that recent U.S. troop withdrawals and the cancellation of a brigade deployment to Poland signal a potential U.S. retreat from Europe, raising geopolitical risk that could weigh on European markets. The article highlights prior pulls from Romania and the decision to move 5,000 troops from Germany, notes a Pentagon delay on a $400 million Ukraine appropriation, and emphasizes Poland’s frontline role versus Russia. For markets, a perceived U.S. pullback could raise risk premia, undermine investor confidence in Europe (pressuring indices like Europe 50), drive higher defense spending and benefit defense-related equities, and push flows into safe-haven assets. Forbes urges renewed political coordination to avoid long-term strategic and economic costs.