Former Croatian President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic, speaking at the Fortune Global Forum in Riyadh, emphasized the critical choices facing Europe amid its ongoing geopolitical tensions with Russia and the need for strategic autonomy from the United States. She argued that Europe has relied too heavily on U.S. defense support, citing former President Trump’s 2018 NATO threat as a pivotal moment that prompted necessary discussions on European defense spending. Despite commitments to increase defense expenditures to 5% of GDP by 2035, she expressed concern over Europe’s potential to achieve true independence, pointing out bureaucratic inefficiencies and a lack of vision. This debate underscores Europe’s struggle to define its role on the global stage and the urgency for cohesive defense strategies in an increasingly complex international landscape.