The Importance of US Alliances in Europe:

A Conversation with Senator Joni Ernst

This week Hudson Institute launched its Center on Europe and Eurasia, directed by Senior Fellow Peter Rough. To launch the center, he spoke with Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa about why the United States needs alliances with Europe. Below are some shortened excerpts.

Watch the talk and read the transcript.

Key Insights

1. Why is it important that Ukraine emerge victorious from its war with Russia?

Well, this is extremely important, and I try and press that issue with not just Iowans, but all Americans. The invasion of Russia into Ukraine was one of the most significant events in the last 30 years. And what we have seen over the past several decades is a Europe that had become complacent. Europeans had not been living up to their NATO obligations. They had not been developing their militaries as they should. They became very heavily reliant upon Russia for their energy sources. And so what we saw was a complacent Europe, a Ukraine that was very vulnerable, and a Russia that decided to take advantage. What is important about this is that when we see that there are holes or areas lacking around the globe, we can either fill them with American leadership by leading other countries, or we can leave them vacant and they will be filled by Russia or China. As we watch Europe, do we want to see Europe, starting with Ukraine, fall to the might of Russia, or do we want to help them push back on that? So do we want and value freedom around the globe, or do we want authoritarian regimes to rule the day?

2. Why did you and 15 of your colleagues in the Senate ask the Pentagon to give Ukraine Gray Eagles?

Thanks for bringing up the Gray Eagle, the unmanned aerial vehicle that we are proposing go to Ukraine. The Gray Eagle can provide air dominance. We see Russia using Iranian-made drones, and we can’t allow them to dominate that space. So our proposal is to push forward Gray Eagles, allow the Ukrainians to use those, minus the technology that we think might be vulnerable if the Russians should capture it, but we have ways around that. To provide them with that opportunity would be extremely significant in their fight against the Russians. So I think that platform is very, very important.

3. Why does Europe matter to a senator from Iowa?

We are all interconnected, and I think Iowans really understand this quite well, whether it is through energy, whether it is trade, Iowa has so many commodities that are pushed out to the world. So remaining interconnected is extremely important. We can’t just pretend the rest of the world doesn’t exist. We can’t stick our heads in the sand. Europe is extremely important. It is important that we maintain these relationships. We cannot step back and let the world either excel on its own or implode on its own because we are going to be tied to the outcome.