David Sanger: European Leaders Are De-Risking from the U.S. Due to Trump’s ‘Unpredictable Leadership’

In a striking commentary from the Munich Security Conference, dubbed the "Davos of the national security world," New York Times correspondent David Sanger revealed that European leaders are now applying the concept of "de-risking" to the United States amid concerns over its "unpredictable leadership," particularly under President Trump.

Sanger, speaking to host Brian, traced the origins of the term "de-risking" back to discussions surrounding China. "We first heard the word de-risking in relationship to China, right. This was a sort of a supply chain thing, which was to say we don’t want to decouple from China we can’t separate the economies but we don’t want to be dependent on them for rare earths and critical minerals and semiconductors and so forth," he explained.

However, at the Munich gathering, the conversation had shifted dramatically. European leaders expressed a parallel strategy toward the U.S., focusing on its leadership volatility. Sanger noted, "But now here at Munich... what you heard was de-risking from the U.S. and its unpredictable leadership, that is to say, President Trump and others."

The core concern articulated by these leaders centered on dependency in defense matters. As Sanger recounted, "you heard leaders say, we can’t put our entire defensive strategies making them dependent." This sentiment underscores a growing wariness among European allies about relying too heavily on American security guarantees.

Munich's role as a pivotal forum amplified these remarks, drawing high-level policymakers to deliberate on global threats. Sanger's observations highlight a potential realignment in transatlantic relations, where economic and strategic interdependence is being recalibrated to mitigate perceived risks from U.S. policy unpredictability.

The discussion, captured in a recent media appearance, reflects broader anxieties in international circles. By invoking "de-risking"—a term popularized in supply chain resilience—European voices signal a strategic pivot, echoing earlier moves against over-reliance on China but now directed at a longtime ally.