What’s Next for U.S. Foreign Policy in 2026? Europe Edition

The second Trump administration came into office last year facing the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, accelerating U.S.-China competition, and an emerging multipolar world. Amid this turbulent international landscape, the administration aimed to reorient U.S. foreign policy, aspiring to reestablish U.S. preeminence in the Western Hemisphere, right-size burden sharing with allies, and deprioritize Europe and the Middle East.

How did the United States deal with 2025’s major foreign policy challenges while attempting to shift U.S. strategy? What do these shifts mean for U.S. foreign policy in 2026?

In this video series, Defense Priorities experts discuss their key takeaways from U.S. foreign policy in 2025 in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Western Hemisphere. They offer recommendations for advancing restraint in U.S. foreign policy and securing American interests in 2026.

In this episode, DEFP Policy Director Ben Friedman and DEFP Director of Military Analysis Jennifer Kavanagh focus on Europe.