Plotting Europe’s new coordinates: Economically, ideologically, and strategically

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Russia’s war in Ukraine, Donald Trump’s return to the White House, and deepening geopolitical divides have forced Europe to confront an uncomfortable truth: the map it once followed no longer applies. Michael Lienhard examines how the continent is redrawing its course and what this means for investors navigating a shifting world.

Almost 20 years ago, I walked from Paris to Cap de la Hague, the windswept point of Normandy where the Channel meets the Atlantic. It was a solitary journey, stretching over 300 kilometres, shaped in part by stories from my wife’s grandfather-a World War II veteran-who spoke of the region with deep reverence. Three places along the way still stand out. The first was the D-Day beaches. I stood for a long time, imagining young Americans, among allies, landing under gunfire to fight for a continent they didn’t belong to by birth, but clearly did in principle. The second was the Usine de Retraitement, a Cold War-era nuclear facility built with American technology-an industrial monument to ambition and ideology. And finally, a lighthouse near Auderville-solid, immovable and providing orientation at a place where values and purpose once defined a shared direction between Americans and Europeans.

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A world that has moved on

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For much of the post-war period, Europe didn’t have to do the heavy lifting. The US provided security. Russia supplied energy. Institutions created stability. That allowed Europe to focus on quality of life, regulation, and integration. But that world has changed. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has exposed the fragility of peace through commerce. And with Donald Trump back in the White House, Europe can no longer rely on US security guarantees. Within weeks of his inauguration, the new administration made clear that defending "delinquent" allies would no longer be automatic. A leading weekly summed up the prevailing mood in Brussels with a stark headline: "Europe Alone." This isn’t panic. It’s a wake-up call.

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The end of the middle ground

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For years, Europe saw itself as the careful centre—not as aggressive as the Americans, not as authoritarian as others. But what once looked like principled moderation has, in some cases, become strategic inertia which is beginning to change. Germany, the continent’s fiscal anchor, recently approved a half-trillion euro programme in March 2025. The Bundestag and Bundesrat de facto suspended the “Schuldenbremse”—its constitutional debt brake—to fund defence, industrial policy, and infrastructure. It’s the largest fiscal move since reunification. And at the EU level, fiscal rules have also been loosened to support higher defence spending. These decisions mark a profound realignment. Emmanuel Macron was blunt: “There is a risk our Europe could die.” Olaf Scholz echoed him, calling for a strong European defence industry. This is no longer a theoretical debate. It’s a shift in mindset.

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Building autonomy, not isolation

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The strategic awakening is visible in energy and industry. Europe’s reliance on Russian gas—once nearly 45 percent—has dropped dramatically. Natural gas imports and renewables have filled the gap. Solar power has now overtaken coal in the EU’s energy mix. These are more than tactical adjustments. They’re rewrites of the European model. The Green Deal Industrial Plan is a cornerstone of that shift. It mirrors the urgency of the US Inflation Reduction Act but leans into Europe's values: sustainability, self-determination, and coordination across borders. It focuses on clean tech, semiconductors, batteries, and supply chain resilience. Recent US tariff announcements—initially framed as a ‘Liberation Day’ move and now partially paused—have underscored the fragility of global trade assumptions. While America’s direction flirts with selective protectionism, Europe’s approach remains one of strategic openness, albeit with growing emphasis on resilience and sovereignty. The goal isn’t autarky. It’s sovereignty without walls. Execution will be uneven. Labour shortages, rigid tax systems, and bureaucratic friction remain. Germany alone faces hundreds of thousands of unfilled jobs. But for the first time in years, the direction feels aligned with the scale of the challenge.

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The market implications of ‘Realpolitik’

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As a fixed income investor, I pay close attention to the price of capital. The yield curve is more than a chart—it’s a signal of how society values risk, policy, and time. Today, that signal is more volatile. Governments are spending more. Fiscal rules are more flexible and fiscal policy more contextual. And markets are responding accordingly; needing to incorporate more risk premium into medium- to longer-term rates. Some analysts now warn that Germany’s AAA rating could come under pressure. Given that fiscal expansion is taking place within an already tight labour market, upward pressure on inflation expectations may follow. Credit spreads across Europe may begin to diverge, potentially requiring additional policy responses. The premium investors demand is no longer just about inflation or growth—it’s about credibility and cohesion. What does this mean for investors? Europe is no longer a one-speed story. The future will be fragmented—and that makes it investable. When all boats aren’t rising, the job of allocation becomes more valuable. Differentiation is no longer optional. It is strategy.

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Movement as meaning

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I return often to my walk in Normandy. Not just in memory, but in metaphor. There’s something about moving slowly through a place—step by step—that changes how you understand it. You notice the layers: the ruins beneath the vineyards, the war memorials beside the wind turbines, the villagers who speak of both resistance and reinvention. It reminded me that history is not static. Maps change. Borders blur. And meaning—true, lived meaning—is often found not in the destination, but in the act of moving forward. Europe is moving again. Cautiously, unevenly, sometimes reluctantly. But moving.

We are witnessing a shift from ideology to values, from dependency to design. It is messy. It is volatile. But it is real.

For the first time in decades, the continent may be sketching a path that is distinctly, unapologetically its own. A path that doesn't rely on old assurances or borrowed strength, but on something deeper: the quiet conviction that Europe can—and must—stand for itself. When I last saw the lighthouse in Auderville, the light was off but the storm was passing. The sea was calmer than expected. And I remember thinking: it’s still here. The foundation is solid. We only need to switch the light back on.

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In this article

Written by

Michael Lienhard

Head of Fixed Income at Cape Capital

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