Europe in the 21st Century: Powerful and Powerless

In the dramatically new strategic environment of the 21st century, Europe is, paradoxically, in a position of power and paralysis. It retains many of its great strengths, but now faces very different challenges than it did at the height of its powers in the 20th century. Hence, what Europe needs most is a major strategic reboot. Its main strategic challenge is no longer Russian tanks, but the demographic explosion in Africa. Europe should therefore recalculate the value of its Trans-Atlantic alliance. It should continue to cooperate with America where it is mutually beneficial. However, it should also cooperate with China to develop Africa and the Middle East to ensure that it deals with its main strategic challenge.