Trump's Return Threatens to Cut Off Europe's Energy, Cash and Tech

Trump's Return Threatens to Cut Off Europe's Energy, Cash and Tech Europe is bracing for a severe crisis of independence as the potential re-election of Donald Trump exposes the continent's deep and dangerous reliance on American power. From the energy that heats its homes to the systems that process its payments, European officials warn that critical infrastructure is now a potential weapon for U.S. political pressure. The alarm was sounded after a senior EU lawmaker released a viral video stating that a Trump administration could disconnect Europe from global payment networks like Visa and Mastercard, just as it did to Russia [58480]. This warning has triggered urgent calls for the bloc to create its own "Airbus of European payments" to protect financial sovereignty [58480]. Simultaneously, Europe's energy security is in the spotlight. Having become heavily reliant on U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) since cutting off Russian supplies, analysts now fear Washington could restrict exports or raise prices to force political compliance [58867]. Germany's government has explicitly labeled Europe's energy security as facing "critical challenges" [59552]. The vulnerability extends to the digital realm. European threats to regulate U.S. tech giants are undermined by the continent's own dependence on their cloud computing, software, and social media platforms [58167]. A push for "digital sovereignty" faces the immense hurdle of building homegrown alternatives to established American behemoths [58171]. In response to these converging threats, a consensus is forming that Europe must rapidly assert its own power. Policy experts argue the continent must be willing to "make the US feel the cost" of its pressure by leveraging its economic weight and reopening steady dialogue with China as a strategic balance [58663]. The core message from capitals across the EU is that the era of automatic American support is over, and Europe must finally turn its economic strength into real geopolitical leverage [58069]. The immediate focus is on defensive measures: building independent payment systems, accelerating alternative energy plans like a North Sea "power hub," and increasing spending on European defense [59552][58480][58069]. The goal, officials say, is to achieve a more balanced relationship with Washington, regardless of who occupies the White House. Trump Could Cut Off Europe's Cards, Warns EU Lawmaker Trump's Next Weapon? U.S. Gas Could Pressure Europe Germany Warns: Europe's Energy Security at Critical Risk Europe's Digital Dilemma: Reliant on US Tech It Seeks to Curb Europe Must "Make US Feel Cost" of Pressure, Argues Analyst Europe's Trump Test: Time to Use Its Own Power